The announcement by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, on 3 September 2018, that the election process of the South African Legal Practice Council by all practicing legal practitioners, commencing with the nomination of election candidates on 4 September 2018, marks the beginning of the new era in the legal profession.
The entire profession (both practicing or non-practicing attorneys and advocates) will henceforth be regulated by a one unitary regulatory body, the Legal Practice Council.
BLA and NADEL are conscious that because of the injustice of the past, black and female legal practitioners are in minority in the legal profession and that the regulation of the legal profession was mainly in the hands of the white practitioners. We have agreed to conduct this election jointly in order to present black and women candidates who will champion the interest of the South African public, transform the legal profession, promote the objects of the Legal Practice Council and reflect the demography of the Republic of South Africa.
In this election, attorneys will vote for attorneys and advocates will be voted for by advocates. Section 7(1) of the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 allocates 10 positions for attorneys and 6 for advocates. We have jointly nominated the following attorneys to compete for the 10 positions:-
1. Mr Lutendo Sigogo;
2. Ms Nolitha Jali;
3. Mr Bayethe Maswazi;
4. Ms Ugeshnee Naicker;
5. Ms Noxolo Maduba;
6. Mr Krish Govender;
7. Ms Kathleen Matolo-Dlepu; and
8. Ms Leonia Smith
NADEL has nominated the following advocates:-
1. Adv. Gcina Malindi SC;
2. Adv. Vershen Moodley;
3. Adv. Lawrence Manye;
4. Adv. Muzi Sikhakhana SC; and
5. Adv. Philip Zilwa SC
Nominations close at midnight on Friday, 14 September. The list of candidates standing for election will be published on Monday, 17 September. Voting opens on 19 September and closes on 30 September. Practising attorneys will vote for the 10 practising attorneys on the LPC and practising advocates will vote for the 6 practising advocates on the LPC.
The names of the successful candidates elected to the LPC will be published on 5 October 2018
We also call upon all practising legal practitioners to vote for our nominated candidates.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE BLACK LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (BLA), SOUTH AFRICA,
BY: Lutendo Sigogo
Black Lawyers Association President
and
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS (NADEL), SOUTH AFRICA,
BY: The Office of NADEL National Secretariat,
National Executive Committee,
Nolitha Jali, (Secretary General)
