Despite navigating a global pandemic, ProBono.Org Cape Town reached a tremendous milestone having hosted their inaugural Legal Practitioner Awards Ceremony, held virtually on 11 December 2020.
Judge Chantel Fortuin of the Western Cape High Court delivered the keynote address. “Like other professionals, lawyers do not function in a vacuum. We practise our skills within the communities we serve,” she said. “If we don’t make justice accessible to all, it will put our democracy at risk, a democracy which each one of us is entitled to. As the COVID saying goes: If one of us is not protected then none of us is protected. In our case: If one of us does not have access to justice then none of us has access to justice”.
She added, “It is true that before our Constitution came into being, law was considered by the majority of South Africans as a tool of oppression. It was seen as a way to entrench the inequalities in our society. You are fortunate to be practising at a time when our Constitution is in place. You are fortunate to practise at a time when equality is considered to be one of the most important rights in our bill of rights. Let the constitutional principle of equality guide you when you work with ProBono.Org in future”.
Thanks to all the pro bono legal practitioners to whom we paid tribute by way of awards and to all those who continue to support our work.
2020 award recipients:
- Family Law
Finalists
LDS Attorneys & Associates Inc
Colin Geoffreys Inc
Carter and Associates
Winner: Carter and Associates
- Wills
Winner: LDS Attorneys & Associates Inc.
- Deceased Estates
Finalists
MacRobert Attorneys
Colin Geoffreys Inc.
Carter and Associates
Winner: Colin Geoffreys Inc.
- Housing
Finalists
Norton Rose Fulbright SA Inc.
Phumzile Mlotshwa, formerly from Smith Tabata Buchanan Boyes
Winner: Norton Rose Fulbright SA Inc.
- Conveyancing
Finalists
Sara Jane Henshell from M Black and Associates
Debra Gouws from Debra Gouws Attorneys
Joe Van Rooyen of Stopforths Inc.
Winner: Joe Van Rooyen of Stopforths Inc.
- Recently recruited Legal Practitioner already actively involved in pro bono work
Winner: Anina Botha of Ashman Attorneys Incorporated
- Most active Community Based Paralegal involved with ProBono.Org
Winner: Mugidien Barnes of the Heideveld community
- Advocate award
Finalists
Adv Lourens Van Zyl
Adv David Simonsz
Winner: Adv David Simonsz
- Most responsive Legal Practitionerduring the COVID-19 Pandemic
Finalists
Nicki van’t Riet from Norton Rose Fulbright SA Inc.
Brigitta Mangale from Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc.
Winner: Nicki van’t Riet from Norton Rose Fulbright SA Inc.
- Legal Practitioner most committed to Candidate Legal Practitioner training and development
Winner: Elke Herbst of Bisset Boehmke McBlain
- Firm that presented at the most Legal Practitioner Webinars
Finalists
Norton Rose Fulbright SA Inc.
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc.
Winner: Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc.
- Firm who produced the most Community Focused Videos
Finalists
Norton Rose Fulbright SA Inc.
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc.
Winner: Norton Rose Fulbright SA Inc.
- Firm that presented at the most Community Webinars
Winner Natasha Wagiet of ENS Mitchells Plain.
- Firm most actively involved in legal clinics
Finalists
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc.
Norton Rose Fulbright SA Inc.
Winner: Norton Rose Fulbright SA Inc.
- Small Law Firm
Finalists
LDS Attorneys & Associates Inc.
Carter and Associates
Colin Geoffreys Inc.
Stopforths Inc.
Winner: Joe Van Rooyen from Stopforths Inc.
- Medium Law Firm
Finalists
MacRobert Attorneys
Ashersons Attorneys
Phumzile Mlotshwa, formerly of Smith Tabata Buchanan Boyes
Winner: MacRobert Attorneys, represented by Anikha Abarder.
- Large Law Firm
Finalists
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc.
Norton Rose Fulbright SA Inc.
Winner: Norton Rose Fulbright SA Inc.
Special Mentions
The Director’s Special Mentions are given to people whom the director and staff have selected owing to their significant contributions in various ways.
Odette Geldenhuys from Webber Wentzel is given a Special Mention for her eagerness and her assistance to ProBono.Org’s Cape Town office. She has remained readily available when approached, even at short notice.
Adv Robert Stelzner SC, Adv Rabie and Dr van Helden of the Giant Periwinkle, we wish to thank you for sponsoring the awards this year.
