Judge overturns Pretoria attorney's suspension

THE Gauteng High Court, Pretoria has expressed its concern regarding the conduct of the Legal Practice Council (LPC) after it obtained an urgent order to suspend an attorney who has been practising for 37 years, without doing a proper investigation into the allegations levelled against him.

- ZELDA VENTER

The suspension obtained by the LPC against Wynand Naude and his law firm Naude Inc, was pending an application to finally strike his name from the roll of attorneys.

“The way in which the LPC conducted this matter is to be deprecated. A proper consideration of the facts would have made plain that there was no basis to apply to court for the suspension of Mr. Naude from the roll of attorneys and conveyancers,” Judge Anthony Millar said.

Naude turned to the court to appeal his suspension, which arose from two complaints against him. But the court, in overturning his suspension, found no evidence of trust account mismanagement or dishonesty against him.