We thank the legal profession for their pro bono contribution On 21 November 2019 we held an award ceremony at Constitution Hill to pay tribute to the many legal practitioners and others who made an exceptional contribution to pro bono work in 2018.
Our guest speaker was Judge Jody Kollapen, who pointed out that access to justice is far from the experience of far too many people in the country. “How can the scales of justice be balanced if the judge only hears one side of the story? Legal representation is essential”, he said. “Pro bono services make rights real for those living in poverty.”
These were the award winners:
Family Law – Joseph Sithole, Ceri Von Ludwig Attorneys
Labour Law – Manager Gumbo, K M Legal Consultants
Wills – Liesl Williams, Norton Rose Fulbright SA
Community Advice Office – Sibongile Advice Office (Zola) Represented by Thandekile Mkhize
Large Law Firm – Bowmans (Fatima Laher)
Medium Law Firm – Clarks Attorneys (Sithembiso Mabaso)
Small Law Firm – Sumadhi Naidoo Attorneys (Sue Naidoo)
Refugees – Dakalo Singo, Werksmans
Children – Suné Bosch and Jonathan Small, Ramsden Small Attorneys Vera Kruger, Abrahams & Gross
Housing – Naledi Motsiri and Dakalo Singo, Werksmans
Estates – Corncelia Chauke, Sonkosi & Ngalonkulu Inc.
Conveyancing – Chrysi Kripotos, Chrissi Kripotos Attorneys (for Johannesburg) Illse Nieuwoudt (for Pretoria)
Outstanding student at a university law clinic – Jarrod van der Heever, University of Pretoria Law Clinic Advocate Award – Basil Joseph, Thulamela Group.
There were also a number of Special Mentions:
Susan Harris, Harris-Morgan Attorneys and Nikola Daniels were mentioned for working as a team on a long Germiston Children’s Court case going back to 2017. Dawn Grabe, Grabe Attorneys for attending at the Johannesburg Deeds Office every Tuesday and drafting wills
Charl Albasini, Albasini Attorneys received a special mention for two children’s cases he has been running over a period of two years MVC Inc. represented by Marinus Labuschagne for taking on family law cases and staffing the Domestic Violence Help Desk.
Rita Ozoemena, Grayston Chambers was mentioned for volunteering many hours to staffing the Refugee and Labour Law clinics as well as the Master’s Help Desk.
Congratulations to all the winners and a special thanks to our sponsors, Lexis Nexis, AJS Business Management Systems, The Millennium Trust and Spier Wine Estate. Thanks also to Freshly Minced for technical services, MC Michael Motsoeneng-Bill and Limeblue Design.
