From left: Former chairperson of the National Forum on the Legal Profession (NF), advocate Kgomotso Moroka SC, with the new chairperson of the Legal Practice Council (LPC), Kathleen Matolo-Dlepu, and deputy chairperson of the LPC, Anthea Platt and former deputy chairperson of the NF, Max Boqwana in Pretoria.
By Kgomotso Ramotsho
On 31 October, 23 members of the Legal Practice Council (LPC) elected the Executive Committee of the LPC in Pretoria. This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa on 29 October, had in terms of s 120 of the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 (LPA), proclaimed in Proc R31 GG42003/29-10-2018, the coming into operation of ch 2 of the LPA, which brings into office the 23 members of the LPC.
Former chairperson of the National Forum on the Legal Profession (NF), advocate Kgomotso Moroka SC, officially handed over the duties of the NF to the new LPC. Ms Moroka thanked and congratulated the members of the LPC. She noted that the journey of the NF was sometimes challenging but had also been a transformative one.
Former deputy chairperson of the NF, Max Boqwana said now that the legal profession has combined all sorts of diversity, ‘the skies will not fall.’ He added that the LPC will be able to provide the necessary guidance that will ensure the independence, strength and accessibility to the legal profession. He stressed that legal practitioners must strengthen the country’s constitutional democracy for this generation and posterity.
Ms Moroka and Mr Boqwana handed over copies of the work the NF did for the past three years to the chairperson and deputy chairperson of the LPC.
Members of the newly elected executive committee of the LPC are as follows:
Other members of the LPC include:
In a statement released by the Black Lawyers Association (BLA), the BLA stated that the LPC demonstrated its unwavering confidence in women leadership, when at the first official meeting it elected attorney, Ms Matolo-Dlepu, and advocate, Ms Platt SC as chairperson and deputy chairperson respectively. The BLA further took the opportunity to congratulate stakeholders in the legal profession for the smooth transition, which resulted in the inauguration of the new LPC.
‘We note with pride and applaud the new leadership of the profession as it once more unequivocally demonstrated its commitment to the values of the Constitution of our country by electing two black women as the chairperson and deputy chairperson of the LPC,’ the statement read.
Kgomotso Ramotsho Cert Journ (Boston) Cert Photography (Vega) is the news reporter at De Rebus.