The acting appointments of the Masters of the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) and (Pretoria) expired at the end of January, and permanent appointments are yet to be made.

GroundUp reports that the Johannesburg Attorneys’ Association (JAA), which represents over 1 000 attorneys and other legal professionals, the Fiduciary Institute of Southern Africa (Fisa) and the SA Restructuring and Insolvency Practitioners Association (Saripa) have warned against prolonged reliance on acting positions.

Beatrice van Wyk is Acting Master of the Johannesburg office and Nthabiseng Ntsoane is Acting Master of the Pretoria office, according to the department’s website. According to Fisa, Van Wyk and Ntsoane have been acting in their positions since at least April 2024.

Katherine Gascoigne, JAA head of the Master’s Office portfolio, said the absence of confirmed appointments could leave the two offices ‘rudderless’.

She said having top officials continuously acting was ‘unsettling’ for the staff and stakeholders alike. The Department of Justice & Constitutional Development confirmed that the acting appointments reached the end of their term at the end of January.

‘All acting appointments are being extended to ensure continuity, stability and uninterrupted delivery,’ the department said.

The department said the Master’s Offices in Bloemfontein, Mahikeng and Mbombela also operate under acting arrangements, while a permanent head has now been appointed at the Kimberley Master’s Office.

Gascoigne said Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi had undertaken in 2025 to address permanent positions, staff vacancies and other challenges at the Master’s Offices as a matter of urgency.

René Bekker, chief operating officer of Saripa, which represents more than 750 practitioners in the liquidation, insolvency and business rescue sectors, said: ‘Saripa urges that these critical positions be filled with permanent appointments to ensure stability, efficiency and the continued integrity of service provision.’

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