Attorneys Fidelity Fund to appeal judgment in Joost Heystek van der Westhuizen v The Attorneys Fidelity Fund Board of Control

PRESS STATEMENT

16 September 2016
For immediate release

 

Re the matter of
JOOST HEYSTEK VAN DER WESTHUIZEN V THE ATTORNEYS FIDELITY FUND BOARD OF CONTROL

1. The legal representatives of the Attorneys Fidelity Fund have studied the judgment handed down by the Honourable Mr Acting Justice Adams in the North Gauteng High Court on 14 September 2016, and have advised that there are sound grounds for an appeal.

2. The appeal is based on the meaning impliedly given by the Court to the term “particular matter or transaction” as referred to in section 47 (5) (a) of the Attorneys Act, 53 of 1979, which differs from the approach that has been adopted thus far and which was based on judgments in other matters dealt with by the Attorneys Fidelity Fund.

3. The Attorneys Fidelity Fund`s Board of Control appreciates the circumstances pertaining to Mr Joost van der Westhuizen, as well as the public sentiment in support of Mr Van der Westhuizen. However, the Attorneys Fidelity Fund`s Board of Control has a duty to ensure that the provisions of the Attorneys Act 53 of 1979 are applied consistently and without favour of any particular person.

4. Accordingly, our legal team has been instructed to prepare an application for leave to appeal the aforesaid judgment.

5. The filing of the notice of appeal will have the effect of suspending the aforesaid judgment.

Jerome Losper
Claims Executive
Attorneys Fidelity Fund
Tel: 021 424 5351
Website: www.fidfund.co.za