Letters of Authority issued in respect of trust registrations must, with effect from 15 September 2014, in terms of Chief Master’s Directive 7 of 2014, contain a suffix after the registration number in order to enable the identification of the issuing office, for example IT 1/2014(G) for Johannesburg.
The trust number of trusts registered prior to 15 September 2014 will not reflect the suffix, unless an amendment has been made due to a change in such trust. In such instance the suffix will be added to the trust number indicated on the new letter of authority.
The following suffixes must be used for purposes of identifying the inter vivos trust files of the various Masters Offices:
| Office | Suffix |
| Bisho | H |
| Bloemfontein | B |
| Cape Town | C |
| Durban | D |
| Grahamstown | E |
| Johannesburg | G |
| Kimberley | K |
| Mahikeng | M |
| Mthatha | U |
| Nelspruit | MN |
| Pietermaritzburg | N |
| Polokwane | L |
| Port Elizabeth | S |
| Pretoria | T |
| Thohoyando | V |
It remains the responsibility of the conveyancer who prepares the relevant deed or document for registration, to ensure that the correct suffix is included in the trust number.
Effective date
All deeds and documents lodged for registration must reflect the correct information. A conveyancer’s certificate may be accepted to indicate the date of the registration of the trust in instances where it is uncertain whether a trust has been registered prior to or after 15 September 2014.
A conveyancer’s certificate may be accepted in instances where transfer duty receipts do not reflect the relevant suffix in the trust number.
A section 4 (1) (b) application need not be lodged for the rectification of any deed that has been registered prior to 15 September 2014.
Allen West
Property Law Consultant
HANNES GOUWS AND PARTNERS INC.
Attorneys, Notaries & Conveyancers
Tel: 012 321 1008
Cell 078 7655928
E-mail: allen@hannesgouws.co.za
Author of The Practitioners Guide to Conveyancing and Notarial Practice 3rd Edition
