14-05-2025
Five convictions overturned after lawyer found practicing illegally for 10 years
The North West High Court in Mafikeng has released five individuals previously convicted of robbery and malicious injury to property.
The North West High Court in Mafikeng has released five individuals previously convicted of robbery and malicious injury to property.
This unprecedented decision stemmed from the revelation that their attorney, Sekgopamang Moses Koloane, had been operating without a valid Fidelity Fund Certificate (FFC) for over a decade, raising serious questions about the legality of their representation.
An FCC is a certificate that is a requirement for legal practitioners; without it, they are not allowed to practice or take deposits from clients. The certificate is renewed every year at a cost of R345.
The accused, identified as Goitseone Serache, Nkakane Tshile, Jeffrey Rabi, Yvonne Monname, and Kgomotso Jwere, were convicted in August 2024 and subsequently sentenced on January 31, 2025.
However, their judicial fate took a dramatic turn when the Legal Practice Council in North West revealed that Koloane's last valid FFC was issued on April 3, 2014.
