0 of 3
Three Eastern Cape attorneys have received the nod from the law fraternity to represent the province in the national Legal Practice Council.
They are East London-based Ncumisa Nongogo and Paula De Azevedo, and Zincedile Tiya from Mthatha.
The Legal Practice Council and its provincial councils regulate the affairs of and exercise jurisdiction over all legal practitioners and candidate legal practitioners.
Members elected to the council serve for a period of three years. They are elected by other practitioners. The council is constituted of 16 members.
Nongogo, practising at Malusi and Co Attorneys, was admitted as an attorney in 1997 and started practising on her own account in 2004. In 2007 she qualified as a conveyancer.
She has also served as a member of the East London and Mdantsane Attorneys Association, was a councillor in the former Cape Law Society and later its vice-president.
Nongogo also serves as the deputy president of SA Women Lawyers Association and is a member of the provincial LPC structure.
De Azevedo is a director at IC Clark Incorporated and has been in practice for 14 years.
She is the chair of the South African Tax Board, a member of the outgoing council, an executive member of the SAWLA EC, president of the South African Association of Managers Forum, executive member of the Eastern Cape Attorneys Association and board member of the Guild Theatre.
Tiya has been in the profession for 10 years and is an executive committee member in the Law Society of SA and executive committee member in the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (Nadel), holding the portfolio of international relations officer. He is the director of ZM Incorporated.
If elected, they want to address challenges such as a high number of law graduates who need placement.
They also want the strengthening of ethics and legal education. They further want to introduce workshops about how to handle client money and to unite the profession.
.
Nongogo said serving in the LPC would mean an opportunity to contribute to a profession that is accountable, efficient and that would promote good governance.
Nominated by Nadel, Nongogo said she was humbled by the nomination and hoped to represent the people of the province to the best of her ability.
“I think Nadel nominated me because of knowing my experience in regulation and my commitment to the principles of fairness,” Nongogo said.
De Azevedo was nominated by four people. She said she grew up watching TV programmes like Boston Legal which piqued her interest in the field.
“I love solving people’s problems,” she said.
De Azevedo said the profession needed people who were passionate about the law.
“Serving in the LPC is another way of me giving back and making a difference,” she said.
“We need representation as the Eastern Cape. Our province is vast and comes with its own set our challenges and we know what that is on the ground, so we can really bring that forward in meetings.”
Tiya was also nominated by Nadel. He said he could make a positive contribution in addressing the challenges faced by the profession.
“There’s a gap between the LLB degree they study at school and what they are expected to do in practice.
“I believe that is an area that needs us to focus on so as to try to curb the high rate failure on the board exams.
Voting closes on October 17.
LPC spokesperson Kabelo Letebele said: “The LPC National elections are open to legal practitioners across SA.
“Legal practitioners are encouraged to participate in the elections of the office-bearers who will oversee the affairs and work of the LPC.
“The office-bearers will be responsible for ensuring that the LPC regulates the legal profession in line with the prescripts of the Legal Practice Act and to protect the public against any misconduct by legal practitioners.”
DispatchLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.