From left: Attorneys Simphiwe Pata; Qengebe Gcanga; Odwa Nyembexi (standing in for Lesly-Ann Brauns); and Zuko Tshutshane, pictured with the Attorney Development Fund’s Mackenzie Mukansi (second), were recently awarded with equipment for their law firms.

By Nomfundo Manyathi-Jele

The Attorneys Development Fund in partnership with LexisNexis South Africa and Korbitec have awarded eight historically disadvantaged Mthatha legal professionals with tools to grow their practices.

According to a press release, the four attorneys and four advocates were honoured at a consultative workshop in Mthatha on 27 May. The eight candidates are the latest beneficiaries of LexisNexis’ Advocate Advancement Programme and its new Attorney Advancement Programme, which aims to foster and promote entrepreneurship among previously disadvantaged, newly qualified legal professionals.

According to a press release, three attorneys firm – Lesley-Ann Brauns of Lesley-Ann Brauns & Associates Inc; Zuko Tshutshane of Z Tshutshane Attorneys; Zincedile Tiya and Simphiwe Pata of Tiya Pata Attorneys – each received sponsorship valued at over R 56 000, which includes 12 months of free platinum access to the MyLexisNexis online legal research tool, a laptop and a 12 month 3G data contract, including sim card and modem.

Attorney, Qengebe Gcanga of QT Gcanga and Associates received a personal computer and a smartphone from Korbitec, which also includes 12 months’ free platinum access to the MyLexisNexis online research tool and a 12 month 3G data contract, including sim card and modem.

The 2016 LexisNexis Advocate Advancement beneficiaries from the Mthatha branch of the Eastern Cape Society of Advocates received the same package. The beneficiaries are: Mzamo Swana; Zuko Badli; Zandile Ndesi and Lungelwa Mncotsho-Boya. ‘Through a programme endorsed by the General Council of the Bar, the four advocates are among 52 nationally this year – and more than 174 nationally since the programme was started in 2012 – who have received such sponsorships … ,’ the press release states.

The workshop also served as a networking session and a platform to outline the various programmes, which are assisting previously disadvantaged local advocates and attorneys to develop themselves.

Nomfundo Manyathi-Jele NDip Journ (DUT) BTech Journ (TUT) is the news editor at De Rebus.

 This article was first published in De Rebus in 2016 (Aug) DR 10.