2024 Cape Town ProBono.Org Awards

Author: Masi Ncube

The Cape Town ProBono.Org office celebrated its first Annual ProBono.Org Awards on 13 November 2024 to commend the outstanding pro bono work done by its panel legal practitioners and partners in 2023 and 2024. The ProBono.Org Awards Ceremony celebrates the contributions of attorneys, advocates, Non-Profit Organisations, Community-Based Organisations and public servants as it recognises the multi-stakeholder approach required to achieve access to justice for all. Oftentimes, the downtrodden, marginalised and vulnerable are left to struggle alone when facing seemingly insurmountable legal disputes which may lead many people to believe that the enforcement of constitutional rights (especially in civil matters) is a pipe dream. This belief is further perpetuated by the increasing inequalities in our society coupled with the high cost of legal services. However, the everlasting hope that compassion and justice still lives burns within each and every winner awarded during the ceremony.

Judge Siraj Desai, the Legal Services Ombud, delivered a riveting keynote address that made clear that South Africa’s hard-earned triumph against the apartheid regime could not have been achieved without pro bono legal assistance. Judge Desai emphasised that although we are 30 years into constitutional dispensation, pro bono legal assistance is needed now more than ever considering the vast socio-economic disparities found in our society. Additionally, Judge Desai urged legal practitioners to relook their fee structures and to render their services ethically in order for all seeking legal assistance to be treated fairly no matter their economic background.

ProBono.Org awarded those who went above and beyond to volunteer their time, efforts and expertise to uplift and empower. Attorneys, advocates and mediators on ProBono.Org’s panel take on matters, present workshops, staff legal clinics as well as present webinars for the benefit of those in need. In doing so, people who once did not have access to justice get an opportunity to meaningfully engage in our legal system. The legal practitioners who were acknowledged as part of ProBono.Org’s appreciation list are as follows:

1. Trudie Broekmann from Trudie Broekmann Attorneys
2. Advocate Mthunzi Baba
3. Trinka de Vos from de Vos Attorneys
4. Advocate Joseph Swanson
5. Gillian Erasmus from Gillian Erasmus Attorneys
6. Andrea and Mpho from Goliath & Co
7. Matthew Coetzee from Robert Charles Attorneys & Conveyancers
8. Natalie MacDonald-Spence from Spence Inc
9. Dr Ashraf Booley and Prof Muneer Abduroaf from the University of Western Cape
10. Elke Herbst from Bissets Boehmke McBlain
11. Lawrence de Swart and Bridget Henry from LDS
12. Kirsten van der Walt from Combrink Attorneys
13. Byron O’Connor, Ugendran Odayar, Gary Rademeyer, Brent Botha, Heinrich Nienaber, Malcom Hartwell, Sa’ood Lahri, Felix Le Roux and Sarah- Jade Mckillop from Norton Rose Fulbright

The winners of the awards ceremony are as follows:

1. Law Firm Staffing the Most Legal Clinics: Langehoven Attorneys Inc
2. Law Firm Accepting the Most Pro Bono Matters: Debra Gouws Attorneys Inc
3. Most Active Newcomer: A Fotoh Attorneys
4. Most Active Community Development Worker: Bukelwa Hendry
5. NPO Hosting the Most Legal Education Workshops: Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children
6. Law Firm Staffing the Most Virtual Legal Clinic: Norton Rose Fulbright
7. Most Active Labour Law Firm: Colin Geoffreys Inc
8. Law Firm Presenting the Most Webinars: Norton Rose Fulbright
9. Law Firm Staffing the Most Refugee Legal Clinics: Bowmans
10. Law Firm Accepting the Most Will Instructions: BVPG Attorneys
11. Community-Based Organisation Facilitating the Most Legal Clinics: Bonteheuwel Walking Ladies

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to all who contribute to the realisation of access to justice. ProBono.Org is also very grateful to Norton Rose Fulbright and Briefco for sponsoring the event.