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Dumisa Ntsebeza SC said Zuma’s choice of representatives ‘proved the presidency has no faith in black advocates’.
Following the announcement of President Jacob Zuma’s counsel, some in the legal fraternity have blasted the government for allegedly failing to show faith in black lawyers.
Jeremy Gauntlet SC, Kemp J Kemp SC, Max du Plessis, Sandhya Mahabeer and Sarah Pudifin-Jones have been chosen as Zuma’s representatives after he and speaker of parliament Baleka Mbete, were taken to court by the EFF and the DA over a failure to implement Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s recommendation that Zuma repay a portion of the money spent on upgrades to Zuma’s home.
The Black Lawyers Association (BLA) president, Lutendo Benedict Sigogo, said reports of Zuma’s team of representatives did not come as a shock to the organisation.
“It was just a confirmation that the black government led by black a president doesn’t have confidence in the ability of the black legal practitioners,”
Chairperson of the Advocates for Transformation, Dumisa Ntsebeza SC had also said “this proved that the presidency has no faith in black advocates”.
“President Zuma as the first citizen of the country is expected to lead by example when it comes to transformation of the legal profession and affirmative action of the previously disadvantaged legal practitioners, which are all policies of the ANC-led government,” Sigogo said.
The presidency’s spokesperson Bongani Majola could not be reached for comment. When The Citizen contacted ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa, he preferred to leave the matter to the presidency.
Last month, South Africans were shocked by a controversial choice of legal representative when Advocate Dali Mpofu represented Gareth Cliff in a R25-million lawsuit against M-Net.
That came after M-Net fired Cliff for failing to show ‘empathy’ when he tweeted that former estate agent Penny Sparrow had the right to say what she wanted.
The court on January 29 ruled in favour of Cliff.
Meanwhile, President Jacob Zuma must first announce his resignation before he can begin addressing the nation on it’s current state.
This is a call from a former Cosatu leader and some political parties ahead of today’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Speaking to The Citizen yesterday morning, former Cosatu general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi said he expects Zuma to tell the nation that he and his Cabinet have resolved to resign.
“I’ve said in my alternative Sona, that South Africa is facing its worst-ever crisis under Zuma’s leadership.
“Corruption is running out of control in both the public and private sectors, despite strong resolutions at successive ANC Conferences, and it has become very difficult to do business with government without greasing the hands of corrupt officials,” Vavi said.
Spokesperson for the Congress of the People (Cope), Dennis Bloem echoed Vavi’s sentiments, saying he must announce his resignation.
“Zuma must also give the nation an explanation on why he fired former Finance Minister, Nhlanhla Nene,” said Bloem.
He said while they do not have any intentions of disrupting the Sona, they will still mobilise with other opposition parties, to discuss what the next plan of action should be against the President. — The Citizen.
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