Master of the Supreme Court, Cape Town. Insolvency Chamber. Insolvent Liquidation and Distribution Accounts

According to the provisions of Ordinance 104 and 105 of 1833, the Orphan Chamber was abolished and its duties were transferred to the newly appointed office of the Master of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of the Cape of Good Hope was established in 1827. Subsequently a code for the administration and distribution of insolvent estates was enacted on behalf of minors and persons under curatorship.

The Master controls the administration of deceased and insolvent estates. In this connection he protects the property rights of creditors and heirs and especially of minors. The acts which mainly control his functions are the Administration of Estates Act, 1965 (Act 66 of 1965), the Insolvency Act, 1936 (Act 24 of 1936), the Companies Act, 1984, (Act 69 of 1984) and the Trust Property Control Act, 1988 (Act 57 of 1988). He appoints executors and trustees in estates and liquidators of companies. The most important task of the Master’s office is to check liquidation and distribution accounts. He has wide powers to enforce proper administration by executors, liquidators and trustees.

There were six Master’s offices in South Africa prior to 1997, one in each of the provincial capitals and one at Kimberley and also Grahamstown.