Citizens for Transformation (CFT) has lodged a formal complaint to the Legal Practice Council (LPC) of South Africa against the Mboweni Maluleke Incorporated Attorneys over the irregular contract with Malawi’s Electoral Commission (MEC).
The complaint follows report that Mboweni Maluleke attorneys pocked part payment of MK300 million from the MK600 million the law film charged MEC despite not rendering any service.
In a letter signed by CFT Public Relations Officer, the grouping has asked the LPC to summon Maluleke Inc to render a detailed Statement of Account for the work done by them in the MEC appeal Case, as required by Rule 35.11 of the Rules for Legal Practitioners in South Africa.
“This serves to notify all stakeholders and the general public that Citizens for Transformation (CFT) – People Power Movement has laid a formal complaint to the Legal Practice Council (LPC) of South Africa against the Mboweni Maluleke Incorporated Attorneys over the irregular contract with Malawi’s Electoral Commission (MEC) in which the said legal firm charged (and received part thereof) exorbitant legal fees envisaged to be against tariff regulations in the industry.
“CFT has demanded that the LPC should summon Maluleke Inc to render a detailed Statement of Account for the work done by them in the MEC appeal Case, as required by Rule 35.11 of the Rules for Legal Practitioners in South Africa,” reads in part the letter.
Added the letter: “The CFT has further demanded that upon the LPC’s receipt of the Statement of Account from Maluleke Incorporated Attorneys, it must assist with the taxation (assessment) of same to determine if the fees were commensurate with the work done under the prescribed tariff.”
The Chief Justice on Monday shot down an application by South African lawyers, Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza and Elizabeth Makhanani Baloyi-Mere of Mboweni Maluleke Inc Attorneys, to represent Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) in the presidential elections appeal case.
According to Nyirenda, the two lawyers failed to satisfy one of the requirements under the Legal Education and Legal Practitioners Act which requires that the applicant be physically available in court when making such an application to be admitted to represent a client in a foreign land.
The two lawyers were not present in court Monday but went to Malawi High Commission in Pretoria and communicated with the court via video conferencing facilities.
