Advocate did not have proper qualifications, says law body

A PRETORIA association of advocates has suspended one of its members for allegedly practising without proper qualifications.

Nkadimeng Matthew Manamela was admitted as a practising advocate in the Mmabatho High Court in September 2010.

However, the validity of his qualifications was questioned by legal representatives of the respondents in a land claims case he is involved in at the Pretoria High Court.

As a result, the qualifications matter was referred to the office of national police commissioner General Ria Phiyega, the University of South Africa (Unisa) and the Church Square Association of Advocates for investigation.

Last week's Bar Council meeting resolved to suspend Manamela's membership after he allegedly failed to provide it with the requested qualifications proof.

The chairman of the advocates, association, Willem F Pienaar, reported the decision to suspend Manamela to the Pretoria High Court last Friday.

Pienaar told Sowetan: "We are satisfied we have a prima facie case and he has been suspended as a member of the association pending the outcome of the court case."

He was referring to the court application they were planning to file in the Mmabatho High Court to have Manamela disbarred.

In a telephone interview with Sowetan, Manamela said proper processes were not followed and he was never called to any hearing to give his side of the story before his suspension.

"Once it [the query] is brought to my attention, I will vehemently challenge it," he said.

Asked if he would continue practising after the suspension, he said: "I have a licence to practice and nothing will stop me until proven otherwise."

Unisa would only comment on Manamela's qualifications with his permission.

However, Sowetan has seen a document in which Unisa refuted claims that it had conferred a Bachelor of Laws degree on Manamela.

Manamela said he had agreed to withdraw from the land claims case so that another advocate could take the case forward.