Question NW693 to the Minister of Arts and Culture
12 May 2020 - NW693
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture
(1) Whether, in view of the finding by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration that the lawyer in the National Library of South Africa’s case to investigate allegations against a certain person (name and details furnished) acted unprofessional and unethical, the Board still makes use of the specified lawyer’s services; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether the National Library of South Africa does not have a contract with the lawyer whose services they have been using since 2015; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether the lawyer has been reported to the Legal Practice Council for unethical and unprofessional conduct; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) whether the specified case is still under investigation; if not, why not; if so, has the lawyer recused himself from the case; (5) what are the names of the other lawyers that are used by the National Library of South Africa?
Reply:
1. There are matters that the specified attorneys are handling, as the NLSA’s attorney of record, that are currently before the Court.
2. Yes, the specified Attorneys have been rendering legal services to the NLSA since July 2014. However, with new matters requiring legal advice, the NLSA appoints legal counsel on a rotational basis.
3. There was no decision taken, to our knowledge, to report the lawyer to the Legal Practice Council.
4. The names of the other lawyers that are used by the National Library of South Africa are:
- MM Baloyi Attorneys
- Mamatela Attorneys Inc.
- Maserumule Attorneys
- MacRoberts Attorneys