LSSA adds its voice to condemn wrongful arrests in Tanzania
Thirteen people were arrested by Tanzanian police during a legal consultation convened by the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) and Community Health Services and Advocacy (CHESA). The consultation was in preparation for a case ISLA and CHESA plan to file before a court challenging the Tanzanian government’s decision to limit the provision of certain health services that it had previously provided.
‘We join our colleagues at ISLA and Lawyers for Human Rights in calling on Tanzanian authorities to release those arrested immediately. We understand there to be no legal basis for the arrests. We agree with the many institutions that have voiced their outrage that these proceedings appear to be an attempt to intimidate citizens from approaching judicial institutions when their rights have been violated, and also an attempt to instill fear among lawyers who wish to assist them. As our colleagues have said, this ultimately creates an atmosphere where it is impossible to hold the state accountable for human rights violations’, say LSSA Co-Chairpersons Walid Brown and David Bekker.
The thirteen detained include a Ugandan citizen and two South Africans, including ISLA’s executive director, Sibongile Ndashe.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA, WALID BROWN AND DAVID BEKKER
by the Law Society of South Africa Communication Department
Contact: Barbara Whittle, Communication Manager, barbara@LSSA.org.za (012) 366 8800 or 083 380 1307
Nomfundo Manyathi-Jele, Communications Officer, nomfundom@LSSA.org.za Tel: (012) 366 8800 or 072 402 6344.
LSSA adds its voice to condemn wrongful arrests in Tanzania
LSSA condemns attorney’s unacceptable behaviour towards journalist
The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) condemns the reported behaviour of former Eskom evidence leader, Pretoria attorney Sebetja Matsaung, towards Financial Mail deputy editor, Sikonathi Mantshantsha on Friday
‘It is unacceptable for an attorney to treat a member of the media – and indeed anyone – in the manner alleged in this incident. An attorney is an officer of the court and a member of the attorneys’ profession. As such he must, first and foremost, maintain the highest standards of integrity, and refrain from doing anything which could or might bring the attorneys' profession into disrepute. A practitioner who fails to do so could be found guilty of unprofessional and/or dishonourable and/or unworthy conduct,’ say LSSA Co-Chairpersons Walid Brown and David Bekker.
Mr Mantshantsha can lodge a complaint with the Law Society of the Northern Provinces, the statutory regulatory body for Gauteng attorneys.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA, WALID BROWN AND DAVID BEKKER
by the Law Society of South Africa Communication Department
Contact: Barbara Whittle, Communication Manager, barbara@LSSA.org.za (012) 366 8800 or 083 380 1307
Nomfundo Manyathi-Jele, Communications Officer, nomfundom@LSSA.org.za Tel: (012) 366 8800 or 072 402 6344.
LSSA condemns attorney’s unacceptable behaviour towards journalist
LSSA condemns attorney’s unacceptable behaviour towards journalist.
LSSA Co-Chairpersons Mid-Term Report
Law Society adds its voice to condemn scourge of violence against women
The media and social media channels have been replete with reports of rape, assaults, sexual harassment and murder of women, often by intimate partners, in the home or in the workplace. As others have done, we call on law enforcement and prosecution agencies to act swiftly and decisively to bring perpetrators to book so that justice is not only done but is also seen to be done.
‘From the side of the LSSA, we will call on the statutory regulatory bodies, the four provincial law societies, to undertake a review of the rules of professional conduct as well as the procedures related to these, to ensure that all practitioners, but particularly women attorneys and candidate attorneys, find a sensitive and supportive environment when reporting any form of abuse to the law societies,’ say LSSA Co-Chairpersons, Walid Brown and David Bekker.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA, WALID BROWN AND DAVID BEKKER
by the Law Society of South Africa Communication Department
Contact: Barbara Whittle, Communication Manager, barbara@LSSA.org.za
(012) 366 8800 or 083 380 1307
Nomfundo Manyathi-Jele, Communications Officer, nomfundom@LSSA.org.za
(012) 366 8800 or 072 402 6344.
