Johannesburg - The Black Lawyers Association (BLA) has condemned the brutal attack by Mpumalanga residents on a lawyer who was representing two of four murder accused last week.
The BLA described the attack on Advocate Nico du Plessis as barbaric.
Du Plessis represents Themba Myambo and Jabulani Ndlovu, who together with Louis Sithole and Sfiso Mazibe are all charged with the kidnapping and murder of 3-year-old Lutricia Nkentjane on November 29 last year.
Nkentjane’s body has not yet been found.
On Thursday, angry residents vented their spleen at Du Plessis outside the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court.
A video shows some residents kicking Du Plessis until he falls to the ground as they continue the attack.
BLA president Lutendo Benedict Sigogo said the attack was a cause of serious concern to the association in particular and the legal profession at large.
undefined“This comes as a huge shock as we no longer expect this type of appalling behaviour in this era.
“According to the media reports, advocate Du Plessis was kicked and pulled by his tie to the ground,” Sigogo said.
He added that “the BLA was of the view that no amount of anger, irrespective of any form of offence a person is accused of committing, justifies any form of attack on the accused's legal representative”.
Sigogo said the assault was an attack on the entire legal profession and some of the rights guaranteed in the constitution, like the right to dignity, right to choose trade, occupation or profession of choice freely, and the right to legal representation.
“Of paramount importance is that members of the community should know that our country is founded on constitutional values, among others, human dignity, the achievement of equality and advancement of human rights and freedoms,” he said. “These rights guarantee us an independent legal profession.”
The Star