CASAC bemoans LPC's failure to consult it on the withdrawal of 3 charges against Mpofu

JOHANNESBURG - The Council for the Advancement of South Africa’s Constitution (CASAC) has bemoaned the Legal Practice Council (LPC) for its failure to consult the body on the withdrawal of three charges against Advocate Dali Mpofu (SC).

This, despite some of the charges emanating from a complaint launched by the non-governmental organisation.

READ: Mpofu laments legal profession's body for withdrawing 3 of 7 charges against him

Mpofu now faces four charges of violating the LPC’s code of conduct by allegedly bringing the legal profession into disrepute.

But CASAC has described the procedure followed by the LPC as irregular, as explained by senior researcher at CASAC, Dan Mafora: "The fact that the charges were withdrawn without any consultation with us by the LPC is irregular and a concern for us, but hopefully we will get some clarity on that position. We are disappointed and concerned about the fact that the proceedings have been postponed indefinitely, and there actually isn’t a deadline by which Advocate Mpofu would have to respond to the new amendments that have been made to the charges."

This is particularly a hurdle for CASAC, as it has waited about two years for the matter to be heard, only for the disciplinary committee to announce a postponement.

This, while the LPC also did not immediately register CASAC’s complaint, arguing that the complaint was not laid by the people against whom the alleged infringement was committed.

"It’s concerning that after two years, we’ve had to wait for two years, almost to the day, to have this hearing, only for it to be postponed."