View organisations by:
Master of the High Court
Contact Details:
Head of Organisation:
Veronica Matiea
Master of the High Court
t: +266 2232-0521
mhco@leo.co.ls (on study leave)
Key Contact:
Masibongile Vilakazi
Acting Master of the High Court
t: +266 2232-0521
t: +266 2231 1160 ext. 2330
bongi.vilakazi@yahoo.co.uk
Khopotso Molapo
Acting Deputy Master of the High Court
t: +266 2232 0521
t: +266 2231 1160 ext 2343
przica5@webmail.co.za
Postal
PO Box 33
Maseru 100
Physical:
Phase I Complex, behind Ministry of Finance, Maseru
Type:
Government - Lesotho
Target Groups:
Abused Children,Care-givers,Child Heads of Household,Disabled,Orphans and Vulnerable Children,Women,
Paid Staff:
15 total:
1 Master
1 Deputy Master
6 Assistant Master
2 accountants
5 Support Staff
1 Master
1 Deputy Master
6 Assistant Master
2 accountants
5 Support Staff
Volunteer Staff:
None
Reg. Number:
N/A
Relationships in Lesotho:
Key partners include:
GoL Probation Unit
NGOC
World Vision
Red Cross
Justice and Peace
FIDA
WILSA
Also churches, financial institutions, insurance companies, employers, and all district chiefs throughout the country.
Local Government Councillors
Support Groups
GoL Probation Unit
NGOC
World Vision
Red Cross
Justice and Peace
FIDA
WILSA
Also churches, financial institutions, insurance companies, employers, and all district chiefs throughout the country.
Local Government Councillors
Support Groups
Main Domain:
Protection
Sectors:
Campaign,Education,HIV/AIDS,Social Welfare
Village Location:
Master of the High Court works throughout Lesotho in a decentralized system whereby staff are deployed to 3 districts throughout the country:
Maseru, Mohales Hoek, and Quthing.
They currently work in 3 districts, however, by the end of the financial year (Sept. 08), they expect to be working in every district, with the expansion starting with Butha-Buthe and Leribe.
Seven new positions of assistant Master have been approved by the public service commission. These officers will be placed in the remaining districts by July 2009. The expansion will start in Berea and Mokhotlong.
Maseru, Mohales Hoek, and Quthing.
They currently work in 3 districts, however, by the end of the financial year (Sept. 08), they expect to be working in every district, with the expansion starting with Butha-Buthe and Leribe.
Seven new positions of assistant Master have been approved by the public service commission. These officers will be placed in the remaining districts by July 2009. The expansion will start in Berea and Mokhotlong.
District Location:
Core Activities:
Master of the High Court handles administration insolvent and liquidated estates, often of deceased on behalf of minors and of guardian's fund for minors. They encourage communities as a whole to draw wills in an endeavor to protect their children and inform children about their rights and responsibilities, when inheritance is concerned.
Master of the High Court defends childrens rights to property and often works closely with OVCs and their guardians. For example, there are many “property grabbing” cases in which parents die and property that rightfully belongs to their children is taken by other relatives. In other cases, communities might reject orphans and withhold services and basic rights from them, in which case Master of the High Court intervenes to protect the children.
From January 2008 to March 2009, 332 cases were received by the Master of the High Court where monies of minor children has been secured through the Guardian Fund.
Master of the High Court defends childrens rights to property and often works closely with OVCs and their guardians. For example, there are many “property grabbing” cases in which parents die and property that rightfully belongs to their children is taken by other relatives. In other cases, communities might reject orphans and withhold services and basic rights from them, in which case Master of the High Court intervenes to protect the children.
From January 2008 to March 2009, 332 cases were received by the Master of the High Court where monies of minor children has been secured through the Guardian Fund.
Activities in Lesotho :
Database:
Through the support of UNICEF the Office of the Master of the High Court has developed a data base system for its Guardian's Fund. This will assist in tracking the use of funds of minor children while under the adminstration of the Office. It will aslo serve as a source of information on beneficaries, details, and other matters. We would like this database to expand to all districts in order to track not only funds of minor children, but also cases that have been attended by the Master of the High Court throughout the country at any given time.
In April 2009, Chiefs and Local Councillors in the district of Maseru will be trained in the law of succession and inheritance by the office. Five one-day workshops will be held at Khotsong Lodge near Thaba Bosiu. These will also assist the Office to understand the local government structure and how chiefs and local councillors work together in protecting the properties of minor children in their communities. These workshops are supported by UNICEF-Lesotho.
More than 100 participants will be trained. Workshops of a similar naturewere held from November to December 2008 in the districts of Butha-Buthe, Quthing, and Mohale's Hoek.
The Master of the High Court intends to assist beneficaries of the Guardian Fund to open bank accounts with financial institutions. This will enable beneficaries to access funds when required rather than following the procedures of government in the issuance of cheques.
Through the support of UNICEF the Office of the Master of the High Court has developed a data base system for its Guardian's Fund. This will assist in tracking the use of funds of minor children while under the adminstration of the Office. It will aslo serve as a source of information on beneficaries, details, and other matters. We would like this database to expand to all districts in order to track not only funds of minor children, but also cases that have been attended by the Master of the High Court throughout the country at any given time.
In April 2009, Chiefs and Local Councillors in the district of Maseru will be trained in the law of succession and inheritance by the office. Five one-day workshops will be held at Khotsong Lodge near Thaba Bosiu. These will also assist the Office to understand the local government structure and how chiefs and local councillors work together in protecting the properties of minor children in their communities. These workshops are supported by UNICEF-Lesotho.
More than 100 participants will be trained. Workshops of a similar naturewere held from November to December 2008 in the districts of Butha-Buthe, Quthing, and Mohale's Hoek.
The Master of the High Court intends to assist beneficaries of the Guardian Fund to open bank accounts with financial institutions. This will enable beneficaries to access funds when required rather than following the procedures of government in the issuance of cheques.
Future Plans:
Future plans include establishment of its own, independent office in Maseru and a possible expansion of staff.
Master of High Court WISHLIST:
Establishment of an independent office of the Master of the High Court in Maseru and possibly relocative to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.
Master of High Court WISHLIST:
- Would like an automated filing system to keep track of all cases.
- Would like assistance establishing a monitoring and evaluation system.
- Would like specialized legal training for staff on administration of insolvent estates (newly added to NUL curriculum, but also available in South Africa.)
- They would like to see the Letsema network used to share a list of donors in the country, with type of funding and projects listed for each donor.
- Would also like to see aspects of child law added to the curriculum at the National University of Lesotho and the College of Education.
- We would like to use Letsema as a tool to give public information about our programs and activities and also as a means of educating people about the law that protects minor children in the form of short articles.
- We would also like to network with international organisations both governmental and non-governmental who have interest in children's property rights.
Establishment of an independent office of the Master of the High Court in Maseru and possibly relocative to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.
Funding:
They are part of GoL, so they receive government funding. No private donors shared.
This organisation's info updated on: Fri, Feb 12, 2010
If you would like to amend or add to the above information please contact info@sentebale.org
