Chairperson, hon members, Ministers, Deputy Ministers ...
Sengibuyile! [I am back!]
The NFP wants to thank the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services for introducing this important debate on the legal profession. We are of the view that this important amendment to the Attorneys Act should have been done a long time ago in order to rationalise the legal profession. We believe that this amendment will also be welcomed by the legal profession and the legal fraternity.
It is not logical that in 20 years of freedom and democracy we still have a profession that somehow still uses the rules and procedures of the so- called homeland governments, or the Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei, TBVC states. This amendment will provide a uniform procedure, rules and regulations in the legal profession. We fully support the aims and objectives that this amendment seeks to achieve, which include, amongst others, changing the names of certain law societies and giving effect to constitutional court judgments, like the case of Mabaso v the Law Society of the Northern Provinces and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development.
Addressing the disparities in relation to attorneys and candidate attorneys applicable to former TBVC states is crucial for bringing equality to this type of profession.
The Law Society of South Africa provides for candidate attorneys that, during their articles of clerkship, attend a school for legal practice which in turn reduces the time for serving articles by six months. The Law Society of Bophuthatswana does not provide for such training. It is for those reasons that we say we support this amendment, one that will do away with such unnecessary disparities, stress and confusion when a candidate attorney has to be admitted as a full attorney. There is a difference between a candidate attorney and an attorney.
I heard some of my colleagues say that when you graduate you then represent people in murder cases. It doesn't work like that. You do your articles, write your board exams, you are admitted, and then you appear in regional courts and you are then able to handle Schedule 6 offences like murder and rape. [Interjections.]
Cha, awukwazi ukuthi akanaso isipiliyoni ebe elwenzile uhlelo lokufundela ubummeli emsebenzini (ama-articles). [No, you cannot say that someone has no experience when they have completed the programme that forms part of studying to becoming a lawyer and has served their articles.]
Hon Minister, we want you to note that we support this Amendment Bill with the hope that the Legal Practice legislation will be finalised quickly. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]