SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PRO BONO WORK

In keeping with our social responsibilities, we have regularly assisted clients on a pro bono basis including assisting correspondent attorneys who were acting for a client on a pro bono basis.

The services we have rendered on a pro bono basis are:

• Criminal matters, 

• Domestic Violence matters, 

• Harassment matters,

• Labour law advice,

• Drawing up of Wills 

• Maintenance court

• Children’s Court

• Pro Bono work issued to our offices by the Law Society of the Northern Provinces and its successor the Legal Practice Council.

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Both Mrs. Chiba & Ms. Tourapi both regularly receive instructions from the Legal Practice Council to attend to Pro Bono matters on behalf of clients who make application to the Pro Bono organization. Such instructions are always accepted and we offer these clients and their matters the same attention as we do to clients who pay for our services.

Our offices have from inception, made the decision to give back to the community and assist people who may require legal services but cannot afford same. In this regard, we have performed a large amount of Pro Bono work both for clients who have been referred to us as well as part of the Legal Practice Council’s Pro Bono Scheme and other initiatives. 

We attend to work on behalf of clients of Rodel Legal at reduced rates and have also signed up for the Legal Practice Council’s First Interview Scheme, and Services on a Contingency Fee Basis. Details of the Pro Bono clients we have offered such services to appear hereinabove. The Pro Bono initiatives we take part in are:

• Pro Bono services for own clients

• Pro Bono Initiative of Legal Practice Council

• Wills Week

• First Interview Scheme – Legal Practice Council 

• Services on a Contingency Fee Basis – Legal Practice Council 

• Rodel Legal 

• Lexcorp – free 30 minute consultation with various clients

MS. JULIA NTOMBELA

In this regard, we have assisted Ms. Julia Ntombela on a Pro Bono basis and her matter is ongoing. The matter concerns the validity of a document purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Ms. Ntombela’a late mother, Ms. Phahlang, which was presented to the Master of the High Court more than a year after Ms. Phahlang had passed away.

We have secured both the services of a handwriting expert on a Pro Bono basis as well as counsel and the matter is currently proceeding in the High Court. The handwriting analysis has indicated that the signature is a forgery. The Pro Bono certificate is attached to the annexure bundle.

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BRILLIANT BASICS

We have also assisted the above company on a Pro Bono basis with a labour matter that was heard in the CCMA. Our offices consulted with Ms. Minnie of Brilliant Basics after hours and drafted her affidavit over the weekend to assist her. A letter of reference is attached to the annexure bundle.

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GURU RATNA VANGATRAMAN

We have assisted the Guru who operates the Adhi Lingeshwarar Temple, 119 Jarrah Road, Benoni on a Pro Bono basis with advice on a number of matters thus far, including advice on an immigration issue and most recently, during the course of April 2021, we have provided advice and an opinion on the forming of a Public Benefit Organisation.

Out of respect to the Guru and the Temple, and as we did not deem it appropriate, we have not requested a reference letter from him but he may be contacted for a reference on 084 242 0841.

CAROL DAMAN

Our offices assist the Jubilee Creche operated by Mrs. Daman by providing gifts and food stuffs to the many children who attend her creche.

ORIANA CHINAPPA

Our offices have assisted Ms Chinappa on a pro bono basis with a child matter.

We have perused various psychologists’ reports, recommendations regarding access and contact with the minor child as well as aspects pertaining to her divorce.

A reference letter received from Ms. Chinappa is attached to the annexures.