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Disgraced advocate’s who tried to solicit R5m bribe, readmitted to the roll of advocates – reinstatement splits legal fraternity

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Disgraced advocate’s who tried to solicit the R5m bribe, readmitted to the roll of advocates - reinstatement splits legal fraternity The reinstatement of one of Seth Nthai, SA’s most controversial state counsels to the roll of advocates, has exposed divisions in the legal fraternity. Seth Nthai was readmitted to the roll of advocates late in May after he approached the high court in Polokwane with the backing of the Polokwane Bar and among others, eminent human rights’ lawyer George Bizos. The court said the judgment, which was penned by among others, Limpopo judge president Ephraim Makgoba, was about a second chance for Nthai. His application was opposed by the Johannesburg Society of Advocates, the Pretoria Society of Advocates and the newly formed SA Legal Practice Council, as the associations believed he was still not fit and proper to be readmitted to the profession. Nthai resigned as a member of the Johannesburg and Pretoria Bars when his unethical conduct — for which he has never been criminally charged — came to the fore at the height of his career. This was after he had solicited a bribe from the claimants in an international arbitration over mining investments in SA, in which he was representing the South African government. By his own admission, Nthai asked for a R5m bribe in return for using his influence to sway the government to settle, in an October 2009 meeting with Italian businessman Mario Marcenaro, who had recorded him on multiple occasions. According to his application, Nthai told Marcenaro that he knew his behaviour was unethical and asked him to keep the discussions confidential. Nthai’s fall from grace came as a shock. His CV was clearly impressive. He was an esteemed advocate and deputy chair of the General Council of the Bar at that stage. He was the first black chair of the Pretoria Bar Council and a former chair of Advocates for Transformation (AFT). He also served as a member of the Judicial Service Commission and had acted as a judge. Politically, he acted as an ANC MEC in Limpopo at the dawn of democracy. Nine years after Nthai tried to solicit the R5m bribe from Marcenaro, he said in his application that he acted with greed and to further his own financial interests. Adding to that, Nthai took the court into his confidence, which he did not do when he was facing disciplinary action at the Pretoria Bar, saying he was depressed and had anxiety at the time. These conditions had formed part of the “primary defects” which led to his name being struck from the roll. The high court in Polokwane said Nthai had shown remorse and had not fallen back into the same unethical ways over the past few years of employment. Despite Nthai being a member of both the Johannesburg and Pretoria bars when he resigned his membership after the complaint against him was laid, the high court in Polokwane ruled that both the Johannesburg Society of Advocates and the Pretoria Society of Advocates had no standing in the matter. The court went further and quoted Nthai’s counsel in the judgment, saying that he had pleaded with “sanguine” in his voice that the Johannesburg Society of Advocates, the Pretoria Society of Advocates and SA Legal Practice Council find it within their hearts to forgive him. His readmittance will, however, not go down without a fight. The Johannesburg Bar has already lodged an appeal. Kennedy Tsatsawane SC said the Johannesburg Bar filed its application for leave to appeal against the judgment on Tuesday, as it maintained that Nthai was still not fit and proper to be an advocate. He, however, said the Limpopo Bar was entitled to take the decision which it did. It is unclear whether the Legal Practice Council will appeal, while General Council of the Bar chair Craig Watt-Pringle said no decision has been taken yet over whether the Bar will apply to become an intervening party. Watt-Pringle did, however, say he believes there are clear grounds on which the matter ought to be taken to a higher court. These include the merits for readmission, as well as the question of the legal standing of the bars in question. Whether Nthai’s status as an advocate will be discussed at the General Council of the Bar’s annual general meeting in July remains to be seen. -businesslive.co.za This report does not necessarily reflects the opinion of SA-news.

The reinstatement of one of Seth Nthai, SA’s most controversial state counsels to the roll of advocates, has exposed divisions in the legal fraternity. Seth Nthai was readmitted to the roll of advocates late in May after he approached the high court in Polokwane with the backing of the Polokwane Bar and among others, eminent..
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How much taxpayers money has been thrown into SAA’s black hole to stay afloat?

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SAA splurging taxpayers money since 2011 and has been operating at a loss, the state entity needs yet another R4 billion bailout to remain afloat

Billions and billions have been thrown at The South African Airways (SAA), but the airline don’t have much to show for it. It’s hard to recall a time when the limpest of all our state-owned entities was successful on its own two feet.  It has a history of relying on fiscal interventions, needing contributions from..
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N3 Highway between Gauteng and KZN dangerous at night, be vigilant during school holidays

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N3 Highway between Gauteng and KZN dangerous at night, be vigilant during school holidays

Vaal Triangle and other South African motorists were warned during the school holidays not to use the N3 highway between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal at night. The N3 toll booth says there is an increase in violent incidents on the road and motorists should rather try to plan their trips for the day. The toll road..
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National power provider, Eskom in hot water – founded guilty of awarding tender to Chinese company With 0% Black Ownership

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National power provider, Eskom in hot water – founded guilty of awarding tender to Chinese company With 0% Black Ownership

The Commission released its findings saying it investigated after receiving an anonymous complaint alleging that the tender process did not comply with the requirements. The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Commission said on Wednesday Eskom was guilty of awarding a tender for boilers at the Duvha power station in Mpumalanga to a Chinese company that..
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The time is nearing where ANC-government can now take your land if they want it! – SA president, Ramaphosa receives report on land expropriation without compensation from advisory panel

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The time is nearing where ANC-government can now take your land if they want it! - SA president, Ramaphosa receives report on land expropriation without compensation from advisory panel

The report of the Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture will be tabled to Cabinet before being released publicly. President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President David Mabuza on Tuesday received the report of the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture. The task of the panel, which was appointed in September 2018 to..
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WATCH |Teacher in SA monitoring grade 11 pupils writing mid year exams, with gun

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WATCH |Teacher in SA monitoring grade 11 pupils writing mid year exams, with gun

The teacher from Mabusabela Secondary School was monitoring grade 11 pupils writing the mid-year tourism paper. A team of psychologists was still on the ground giving counselling services to learners at a Mpumalanga school where a teacher was seen invigilating with a gun. In a video that was widely shared online, the teacher could be..
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Flurry of ANC MP resignations spurred on by substantial pension benefits – It’s a case of ‘getting out while the going is still good’

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Flurry of ANC MP resignations spurred on by substantial pension benefits - It's a case of 'getting out while the going is still good'

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has been hit with a flurry of parliamentary resignations, with nine members officially exiting the National Assembly. In the wake of a particularly grim electoral showing, President Cyril Ramaphosa has been left to confront an arduous task – that of reunifying the deeply divided ANC, while producing positive results..
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But will officials abide? – Massive changes for how municipalities can spend your money – here’s what you need to know

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Massive changes for how municipalities can spend your money – here’s what you need to know

The South African government has gazetted new cost containing measures for municipalities, which will curb what officials can blow taxpayer’s money on. The new rules fall under the Municipal Cost Containment Regulations for 2019, which was gazetted in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act. National Treasury said that the objective of the new rules..
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Thuli Madonsela: where is the Gupta Waterkloof landing report? – The former public protector questions why successor Busisiwe Mkhwebane closed the Gupta landing probe that sent shock waves through SA

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Thuli Madonsela: where is the Gupta Waterkloof landing report? - The former public protector questions why successor Busisiwe Mkhwebane closed the Gupta landing probe that sent shock waves through SA

The former and current public protectors continue to butt heads, this time over the Gupta family’s controversial aeroplane landing. Former public protector Thuli Madonsela has continued to weigh in on the work of her successor, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, this time calling into question her office’s decision to close the investigation into the Gupta family’s hugely controversial..
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Over 200 truck drivers have been subject to violent attacks in 2019 and more than 2000 vehicles have been damaged by illegal blockades, stoning and arson

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Over 200 truck drivers have been subject to violent attacks in 2019 and more than 2000 vehicles have been damaged by illegal blockades, stoning and arson

The newly appointed Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, says that unscrupulous transport operators and illegal foreign national truck drivers are to blame for the recent spate of violence. For local truck drivers, 2019 has proven to be the deadliest and most dangerous period on the roads in recent history. In the last 18 weeks alone,..
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Ace Magashule: We’ll confiscate the assets of white South Africans – He sketched a kind of Marxist-Leninist future for the country in which private property, banks and industries will be nationalised and “Africanised”

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Ace Magashule: We’ll confiscate the assets of white South Africans – He sketched a kind of Marxist-Leninist future for the country in which private property, banks and industries will be nationalised and “Africanised”

Last month the ANC secretary general, Ace Magashule, who has himself been accused of large-scale corruption, stated that the assets of white South Africans will be confiscated without compensation. He sketched a kind of Marxist-Leninist future for the country in which private property, banks and industries will be nationalised and “Africanised”. “Our people demand service..
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ARMS DEAL COMMISSION FAILED TO DO ITS JOB – Corruption Watch wants the court to review and set aside the findings of the inquiry that was appointed by former president Jacob Zuma

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ARMS DEAL COMMISSION FAILED TO DO ITS JOB - Corruption Watch wants the court to review and set aside the findings of the inquiry that was appointed by former president Jacob Zuma

The court application by Corruption Watch and Right2know comes after Judge Willie Seriti, who headed the commission exonerated politicians of wrongdoing-when he released his report in 2016. Corruption Watch has argued in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria that the arms deal commission failed to do its job. The anti-corruption organisation wants the court to..
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Western Cape premier says 331 murders were recorded in the Western Cape for May and more than 10 people murdered every day

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Western Cape premier says 331 murders were recorded in the Western Cape for May and more than 10 people murdered every day

In May, 331 murders were recorded in the Western Cape, compared with 304 murders in May 2018. “That is more than 10 murders per day in the province- lives cut short by senseless violence,” Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde said. The statistics are sourced from the forensic services unit in the Western Cape Department of..
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Eastern Cape Premier denies splurging R450 000 taxpayers money on home renovations that was commissioned from the cash-strapped Mbizana Municipality

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Eastern Cape Premier denies splurging R450 000 taxpayers money on home renovations that was commissioned from the cash-strapped Mbizana Municipality

Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane has vehemently denied having any involvement in the embezzlement of R450 000 from the embattled Mbizana Municipality. As reported by SABC News, at the time Mabuyane was elected as the Premier of Eastern Cape, he had yet to answer to questions around why R450 000, allegedly extracted from R1.1-million that..
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Public Protector Mkhwebane does a Hlaudi: ‘Only God can remove me’ – her utterances and general approach have left a bitter taste in the mouths of South Africans

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Public Protector Mkhwebane does a Hlaudi: ‘Only God can remove me’ – her utterances and general approach have left a bitter taste in the mouths of South Africans

The Public Protector of South Africa, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, has remained defiant in the face of staunch criticism, claiming that her position of power and influence is sanctioned by God. It’s been an admittedly turbulent year for the Public Protector’s office. Numerous reports and orders of remedial action, concerning highly politicised controversies, have been challenged in..
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