Lester Basson

Chief Master (Deputy Director-General: Chief Master’s Branch)

Advocate Lothian “Lester” George Basson

Advocate Lester Basson was appointed Chief Master of the High Court (Deputy Director-General) in June 2011. Advocate Basson holds a BJuris Degree from the University of Potchefstroom, a Bachelor of Law (LLB) Degree from the University of Natal and a BCom (Hon) in Strategic Cost Management from the University of Cape Town. In 2005, he obtained a Diploma in Executive Management from the Graduate Institute of Management and Technology. Basson was admitted as an advocate of the High Court in 1988. He has over 30 years’ experience in the Master’s Office. Some of the management positions he has occupied include acting as Deputy Master and Head of Office in Pietermaritzburg from 1995 until 1997. He then headed the Master’s Office in Bloemfontein from 1997 until 2003.

He went on to become a chief director in the Master’s Branch at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. In 2008, he became Master of the High Court in Johannesburg. As Chief Master of the High Court, Advocate Basson’s duties entail, among other things, providing professional direction in the management of financial and other risks in the Master’s environment.