Latest news with #LegalPracticeCouncil
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
ATM urges calm and child-centred approach amid allegations involving Kaamilah Paulse
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has called for calm and responsibility in the wake of public allegations against prominent Cape Town attorney Kaamilah Paulse, stressing the need to prioritise the rights and well-being of children entangled in ongoing legal disputes. In a media statement released Tuesday, ATM President Vuyo Zungula said the party was deeply concerned about the emotional and psychological toll the matter may have on the children involved. 'At the heart of this issue are the lives and well-being of children,' Zungula said. 'It is essential that all public discourse and legal processes keep their best interests as the top priority.' The statement comes amid mounting controversy following a ruling by the Legal Practice Council (LPC) Appeals Tribunal, which found prima facie evidence of professional misconduct by Paulse. She stands accused of using legal tactics to alienate a Johannesburg father, Asif Casoojee, from his children. Paulse is currently a senior attorney at Herold Gie Attorneys. Casoojee complained about being denied access to his children over a four-year legal battle with his ex-wife, whom Paulse represents. The Tribunal ruled in March that Paulse had improperly obtained a protection order without ensuring due process and had actively contributed to restricting Casoojee's access to his children, including their school and medical records. The Tribunal labelled her actions as 'parental alienation' and criticised her for failing to adequately respond to serious allegations, including her involvement in a WhatsApp group where confidential financial information about Casoojee was shared. ATM has urged the Legal Practice Council to continue holding legal professionals to the highest standards. 'Our justice system depends on ethical conduct and public trust,' said Zungula. 'The LPC must act with integrity and transparency, especially when the lives of children are impacted.' Retired judge and Legal Services Ombud Siraj Desai also weighed in, saying he would be monitoring the proceedings closely. 'This is a sensitive matter involving allegations of undue influence in family litigation,' Desai said. 'Such complaints are unfortunately common, and we will ensure that this one is handled thoroughly and fairly.' In a response submitted to The Star , Herold Gie Attorneys defended Paulse, saying they 'strongly disagree' with the Tribunal's findings and confirmed she intends to challenge the allegations at the Disciplinary Committee. 'No final determination has been made,' the firm stated. In her own brief comment, Paulse said, 'I have served with integrity for over a decade and stand by my conduct. I trust the process and will fully cooperate.' Meanwhile, fathers' rights groups have rallied behind Casoojee, calling for reform in the family law system and decrying what they say is a systemic bias against paternal rights. ATM concluded its statement with a broader appeal to society: 'Let us not forget that at the centre of this story are children. Their rights, safety, and emotional well-being must be the guiding principle in how we respond as a nation.' The matter is now before the LPC's Disciplinary Committee, and may yet return to the High Court — where the future of one father's relationship with his children, and the ethical standing of a legal professional, hangs in the balance.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
ATM urges calm and child-centred approach amid allegations involving Kaamilah Paulse
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has called for calm and responsibility in the wake of public allegations against prominent Cape Town attorney Kaamilah Paulse, stressing the need to prioritise the rights and well-being of children entangled in ongoing legal disputes. In a media statement released Tuesday, ATM President Vuyo Zungula said the party was deeply concerned about the emotional and psychological toll the matter may have on the children involved. 'At the heart of this issue are the lives and well-being of children,' Zungula said. 'It is essential that all public discourse and legal processes keep their best interests as the top priority.' The statement comes amid mounting controversy following a ruling by the Legal Practice Council (LPC) Appeals Tribunal, which found prima facie evidence of professional misconduct by Paulse. She stands accused of using legal tactics to alienate a Johannesburg father, Asif Casoojee, from his children. Paulse is currently a senior attorney at Herold Gie Attorneys. Casoojee complained about being denied access to his children over a four-year legal battle with his ex-wife, whom Paulse represents. The Tribunal ruled in March that Paulse had improperly obtained a protection order without ensuring due process and had actively contributed to restricting Casoojee's access to his children, including their school and medical records. The Tribunal labelled her actions as 'parental alienation' and criticised her for failing to adequately respond to serious allegations, including her involvement in a WhatsApp group where confidential financial information about Casoojee was shared. ATM has urged the Legal Practice Council to continue holding legal professionals to the highest standards. 'Our justice system depends on ethical conduct and public trust,' said Zungula.
Eyewitness News
5 days ago
- Eyewitness News
Senzo Meyiwa trial: Witness grilled on glitch in system of LPC's Fidelity Fund
JOHANNESBURG - A glitch in the systems of the legal practitioners' Fidelity Fund took centre stage at the Senzo Meyiwa trial on Monday. The court heard evidence on the credentials of a lawyer who is linked to one of the accused, Bongani Ntanzi. According to the State, Ntanzi was legally represented by a lawyer named Dominic Mjiyako when he signed a confession statement before a magistrate at the Boksburg court in June 2020. On the witness stand on Monday was Khulani Sambo, an officer from the Legal Practice Council (LPC), who confirmed Mjiyako's credentials. Sambo's testimony confirmed that Advocate Dominic Mjiyako was registered as an attorney when he allegedly represented Ntanzi when he wrote and signed a statement confessing to the murder of Senzo Meyiwa. But Sambo also revealed that in 2020, through a complaint, that he became aware of a systems glitch that resulted in Mjiyako sharing a Fidelity Fund certificate number with another lawyer. Sambo said that a unique number was usually issued to each legal practitioner. This is where the defence centred its cross-examination on Monday, with Ntanzi's lawyer Sipho Ramosepele questioning Sambo on this glitch. "Have you ever heard of where practitioners collude with certain staff members from the LPC and those practitioners obtain FFC fraudulently?" Ramosepele asked. Sambo: "Not to my knowledge, no." While Ramosepele and his colleague, Advocate Charles Mnisi, questioned Sambo on instances of alleged corruption and fraud at the Legal Practice Council, none of them were linked to Mjiyako.
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Eyewitness News
Legal Practice Council witness to take the stand in Meyiwa trial
JOHANNESBURG - A witness from the Legal Practice Council is expected to take the stand on Monday morning in the Senzo Meyiwa trial. Five men are being tried for the Bafana Bafana captain's 2014 murder. Meyiwa was shot at the home of his then-girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, in what the State believes was a hit. Last week, the testimony by the lead investigator Brigadier Bongani Gininda was paused after requests were made by the lawyer for the first accused, Muzi Sibiya. Last week, Advocate Charles Mnisi asked for more data from the tracking devices installed in some of the police cars that were used to transport Sibiya. READ: Meyiwa murder trial: Defence lawyer tells court to expect more adjournment requests Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng then expanded the request, asking that the AVL data of all the cars involved in transporting the accused be made available. While it was clear that the State would need time to secure this data, the testimony of Gininda was postponed until it is available. Prosecutor George Baloyi then told the court that another witness, an attorney from the Legal Practice Council, would be called to testify from Monday. At the same time, Mnisi told the court that he would want two State witnesses to be called back to the witness stand - an application that Judge Mokgoatlheng also asked all the parties to address him on Monday morning.
IOL News
22-05-2025
- IOL News
NGO pushes for disbarment of Kaamilah Paulse due to allegations of parental alienation
Attorney Kaamilah Paulse is facing mounting scrutiny following fresh allegations of professional misconduct, with a second father coming forward to accuse her of abuse of power during his custody battle. Zamer Harneker, a businessman and father, says Paulse's conduct during his Islamic divorce proceedings crossed ethical lines and caused significant emotional harm, particularly in his relationship with his children. Paulse represented Harneker's ex-wife during what he describes as a 'needlessly adversarial' separation process. 'I never opposed the 50/50 asset split. I didn't even fight the separation,' Harneker told The Star. 'But somehow, I spent months without seeing my kids. My ex wasn't malicious. I have to wonder who was driving this.' Harneker alleges that Paulse pushed the matter to the High Court unnecessarily, delaying resolution and driving up costs. More seriously, he claims Paulse obtained and used his confidential financial records without consent. 'She had my bank statements before we even got to court. No one asked me for them. She had my entire banking. I don't know how it was legal for her to do that,' he said. These allegations follow a March 2025 ruling by the Legal Practice Council (LPC) Appeals Tribunal in another case involving Johannesburg-based father Asif Casoojee. The Tribunal found prima facie evidence that Paulse had interfered with Casoojee's access to his children and used improperly served legal documents to secure a protection order in his absence.
