Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo has issued a directive barring axed advocate Senzo Mkhize from Gauteng court buildings
Image: Picture: Timothy Bernard/African News Agency
Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo has issued a directive that now former advocate Senzo Mkhize - who was struck from the roll after he swindled elderly clients out of money - may not enter the court buildings in this division.
Judge Mlambo directed security staff, the court managers and judges not to allow Mkhize entry. He said it has come to his attention that Mkhize continues to come into the court buildings and demand the right of appearance before a number of judges, allegedly on the instructions of his 'clients'.
“Mr Mkhize was struck off the roll of practicing legal practitioners and all his attempts at appealing that order have failed,” Judge Mlambo said.
He added that Mkhize has no legitimate business in the courts and thus should not be allowed access. Judge Mlambo also attached an order of the Constitutional Court to his directive, in which the apex court turned down an application by Mkhize against him being axed as an advocate.
Mkhize was struck from the roll of advocates in 2023 following allegations by the Legal Practice Council (LPC) after six people approached them who complained that they paid him and were never assisted.
The first complaint was from a woman identified as Nkala. She went to Mkhize in March 2020 and paid him R18,000, and he failed to assist her. Nkala said that despite paying Mkhize, she still lost her home which her grandmother had left her.
Another complaint was from a 60-year-old woman called Tshabalala. She paid Mkhize R10,000, and he failed to represent her in court.
A 71-year-old woman identified as Maloba told the LPC that she approached Mkhize to assist her with a property transaction. She was charged R10,000. Maloba said he did not complete his mandate, and every time she wanted to meet with him, he kept postponing their appointment.
Madela, 83, said she instructed Mkhize to assist her with the registration of a title deed into her family name. She was charged R5,000 but was never assisted.
Several similar complaints were received by the LPC.
Mkhize did not file a notice of intention to oppose or an answering affidavit in response to all the allegations against him. However, he tried to block his removal by launching eight different applications against the LPC.
He also wrote two letters warning the LPC that if they didn’t withdraw their application, he would institute R30 million in damages.
In his defence, Mkhize said the invoices were done by his administrators without his knowledge. He said that his employees acted of their own volition. The court, however, rejected his defences and said Mkhize's conduct during proceedings and hearings indicates that he lacks the moral fibre required of his profession and he lacks remorse.