When you wind up a deceased estate, you deal with one specific Master of the High Court office, and it is not simply the one nearest to you. This page lists the contact details for every Master’s office in the country and explains how to work out which one has authority over the estate you are reporting.
Which Master’s office handles the estate
The deciding factor is where the deceased was living. The estate is reported to the Master of the High Court in whose area the deceased was ordinarily resident during the 12 months before death. Where the deceased was not resident in South Africa but left property here, the estate is reported to the Master in whose area the bulk of that property is situated.
You must report the estate within 14 days of the death. For a larger estate the Master issues a letter of executorship; for an estate of R250,000 or less the lighter letter of authority route applies. If you are not sure which office covers a particular town, phone the nearest office listed below and ask, or check with the local Magistrate’s Court.
Reporting at a Magistrate’s Court service point
For smaller estates, many Magistrate’s Courts act as Master’s service points, which saves families in outlying areas a long trip to a provincial office. A service point can receive the reporting documents for a small estate and forward them to the Master. Phone ahead to confirm the service point handles deceased estates before you travel.
Master of the High Court offices by province
The contact details below are drawn from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Details do change, so confirm anything critical with the office directly before you travel.
Gauteng
Master of the High Court, Pretoria (Gauteng Division, Pretoria)
- Physical address: 22nd Floor, SALU Building, 316 Thabo Sehume Street, Pretoria. From 1 June 2026 the office moves to 351 Francis Baard Street, Pretoria, 0002.
- Postal address: Private Bag X81, Pretoria, 0001
- Telephone: 012 406 4805 (enquiries and customer care)
- Fax: 086 544 4893
- Email: chiefmaster@justice.gov.za
Master of the High Court, Johannesburg (Gauteng Local Division)
- Physical address: 66 Marshall Street, Johannesburg
- Telephone: 011 429 8000 (switchboard)
- Note: the general MastersJohannesburg address is not in use, so use the online estate portal or the switchboard for enquiries.
Western Cape
Master of the High Court, Cape Town (Western Cape Division)
- Master: Ms Zureena Agulhas
- Physical address: Dullah Omar Building, 45 Castle Street, Cape Town
- Postal address: Private Bag X9018, Cape Town, 8000
- Telephone: 021 832 3000
- Fax: 086 507 0631
- Email: MasterCapeTown@justice.gov.za
- Office hours for the public: 08h00 to 13h00
KwaZulu-Natal
Master of the High Court, Pietermaritzburg (KwaZulu-Natal Division, main seat)
- Physical address: Colonial Building, 241 Church Street, Pietermaritzburg, 3201
- Telephone: 033 264 7000 (switchboard)
Master of the High Court, Durban (KwaZulu-Natal Local Division)
- Physical address: 2 Devonshire Place (off Anton Lembede Street, formerly Smith Street), 2nd Floor, Durban, 4001
- Postal address: Private Bag X54325, Durban, 4000
- Telephone: 031 327 0600 or 0601 (switchboard)
- Fax: 086 507 0758
- Email: MasterDurban@justice.gov.za
Free State
Master of the High Court, Bloemfontein (Free State Division)
- Physical address: Old Southern Life Building, corner of Charlotte Maxeke (Maitland) and Aliwal Streets, Bloemfontein, 9301
- Postal address: Private Bag X20584, Bloemfontein, 9300
- Office hours for the public: 08h00 to 16h00
Eastern Cape
Master of the High Court, Makhanda (Grahamstown) (Eastern Cape Division)
- Physical address: 5 Bathurst Street, Grahamstown, 6139
- Postal address: Private Bag X1010, Grahamstown, 6140
- Email: MasterGrahamstown@justice.gov.za
Master of the High Court, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- Physical address: 523 Govan Mbeki Avenue (corner of Crawford and Govan Mbeki Avenue), North End, Port Elizabeth
Master of the High Court, Mthatha
- Physical address: Holy Cross Building, 7 Craister Street, Mthatha
- Postal address: Private Bag X6057, Mthatha, 5099
- Telephone: 047 531 2120 or 047 532 3432 or 047 532 3564
- Fax: 047 531 0980
Master of the High Court, Bhisho (Eastern Cape)
- Confirm the current street address and switchboard on the official Master’s contact page before travelling, as full public contact details for this office change from time to time.
Limpopo
Master of the High Court, Polokwane (Limpopo Division)
- Physical address: Polokwane High Court Building, 4th Floor, Block B, corner of Bodenstein and Biccard Street, Polokwane, 0700
Master of the High Court, Thohoyandou (Limpopo)
- Confirm the current street address and switchboard on the official Master’s contact page before travelling.
Mpumalanga
Master of the High Court, Mbombela (Nelspruit) (Mpumalanga Division)
- Physical address: 2nd Floor, Mbombela High Court Administration Building, 52 Samora Machel Drive, West Acres, Nelspruit, 1201
- Telephone: 013 101 3721
Middelburg service point
- Physical address: 1st Floor, Magistrate Court Building, 16 Dr Beyers Naude Street, Middelburg, 1050
North West
Master of the High Court, Mmabatho (Mahikeng) (North West Division)
- Confirm the current street address and switchboard on the official Master’s contact page before travelling.
Northern Cape
Master of the High Court, Kimberley (Northern Cape Division)
- Telephone: 053 831 1942 (head of office)
- Confirm the current street address on the official Master’s contact page before travelling.
Reporting or tracking an estate online
The Master’s Branch runs online registration portals and the ICMS Web Portal, which hold information on estates from 2008 onward. Online estate advertisements are now placed through the Master’s system rather than only in newspapers, following the Chief Master’s Directive on online estate adverts. Once an estate is reported and a reference number issued, you can follow up with the office that holds the file using that number.
A safety note on fake websites
The Department of Justice has publicly warned that the website using the name chiefmaster.co.za is not an official Master’s or departmental website. Deal only with offices whose email addresses end in justice.gov.za, and do not pay any fee or send documents to a site claiming to be the Master’s office without confirming it against the official contact list.
Where this fits
Once you have identified and contacted the right office, the next steps are reporting the estate and obtaining authority to act. For the full process see the guides to the letter of executorship, the duties of an executor, and the liquidation and distribution account. For the charges the office levies, see the Master’s office fees guide, and for the bigger picture see what happens to the money when someone dies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Master’s office handles a deceased estate?
The Master of the High Court in the area where the deceased was ordinarily resident during the 12 months before death. If the deceased was not resident in South Africa but left property here, the estate is reported to the Master in whose area most of that property is situated. The estate must be reported within 14 days of death.
Where is the Master of the High Court in Cape Town?
The Cape Town Master’s office is at the Dullah Omar Building, 45 Castle Street, Cape Town. The telephone number is 021 832 3000 and the email is MasterCapeTown@justice.gov.za. Office hours for the public are 08h00 to 13h00.
Where is the Master of the High Court in Durban?
The Durban Master’s office is at 2 Devonshire Place, 2nd Floor, Durban, 4001, off Anton Lembede Street. The switchboard is 031 327 0600 or 0601 and the email is MasterDurban@justice.gov.za.
Can I report a deceased estate at a Magistrate’s Court?
Yes, for smaller estates. Many Magistrate’s Courts act as Master’s service points and can receive the reporting documents for a small estate and forward them to the Master. Phone ahead to confirm the service point handles deceased estates before you travel.
Is chiefmaster.co.za the official Master’s website?
No. The Department of Justice has warned that the website using the name chiefmaster.co.za is not an official Master’s or departmental website. Deal only with offices whose email addresses end in justice.gov.za.
Methodology note
The office details on this page are drawn from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development Master’s contact pages and government contact directories. Master’s offices are attached to the divisions of the High Court, with additional service points at Magistrate’s Courts. Contact details, office hours, and street addresses change from time to time, and the Pretoria office is scheduled to move to 351 Francis Baard Street from 1 June 2026. Where full public contact details were not confirmed for an office, the entry notes that they should be verified against the official Master’s contact page. Always confirm details with the office directly before travelling or sending documents.
Disclaimer
This article is general information on contacting the Master of the High Court in South Africa. It is not legal advice and does not create any professional relationship. Contact details and procedures change over time. Confirm the current details and requirements with the relevant Master’s office before acting.
