Trust Online Registration System Now Live in Gauteng

2 Apr

This article will count 0.25 units (15 minutes) of unverifiable CPD. Remember to log these units under your membership profile.

As of 1 April 2025, the Trust Online Registration System is officially active for the Pretoria and Johannesburg Master’s Offices. In line with the Chief Master’s Directive 2 of 2025, issued on 27 March 2025, important changes have taken effect:

🔐 New Trust Registrations Must Now Be Done Online

From 1 April 2025, new inter vivos trusts falling under the Pretoria and Johannesburg jurisdictions must be registered using the online system.
These offices will no longer accept manual submissions for new inter vivos trusts.
Manual lodgement remains in place for:
- Testamentary trusts
- Amendments to existing trusts
- Termination notices

The rest of the country will follow in a phased rollout, with timelines to be confirmed.

📄 QR-Coded Appointment Letters Introduced

As of 18 March 2025, all new trust appointment letters issued by any Master’s Office will include a QR code.
These QR codes:
- Allow instant verification of the appointment letter’s authenticity
- Show key trust and appointee details
- Link directly to the Master’s system to access a digital copy
- Replace the need for physical signatures on appointment letters.
Applicants will receive their appointment letters via email or SMS, and a copy will be available under their online profile if registered via the new system.

📅 Don’t Miss the Master’s Webinar – 3 April 2025 at 11:00

The Master invites all professionals dealing with trusts—especially those working in Gauteng—to join an informative webinar on Thursday, 3 April at 11:00. The session will walk users through the online trust registration process, required documents, and how to handle exceptions.

📎 For more details, refer to:
Chief Master’s Directive 2 of 2025: "Trusts – Implementing QR Code on Master’s Appointment Letters and Online Registration of Trusts" (issued 27 March 2025).

Trusts