The parliamentary travel voucher fraud case against six people was postponed until March 19 in the Cape High Court on Monday.
The court was to have heard argument in a defence application for a separation of the trials of MPs and travel agents.
However Judge President John Hlophe was told instead that travel agent Soraya Beukes, did not have a lawyer.
Prosecutor Jannie van Vuuren told the court the lawyer who originally appeared for Beukes had left the firm.
The partner who took over from him had announced on Monday morning that he was withdrawing from the case.
Van Vuuren said the State had indicated its unhappiness over the timing of the news, which would affect the finalisation of the case.
The logistics of the case had been a problem "from day one", he said.
Hlophe ordered that the Legal Aid Board (LAB) immediately appoint a lawyer for Beukes.
It seemed likely that she would be represented by Jerome Parries, who is already acting on the instructions of the LAB for two other travel agents, Mpho Lebelo and Estelle Aggujaro.
The others still facing charges are African National Congress MP Mnyamezeli Booi, former Democratic Alliance MP Antoinette Versfeld, and travel agency boss Graham Geduldt.
Twenty other politicians and two travel agents have already concluded plea bargain agreements with the Scorpions, and have been sentenced to fines of up to R120 000, with alternative jail terms.
One ANC MP, Increase Ncinani, began serving a three year jail sentence last week after he fell behind with instalments on his fine.
The case against another ANC MP, Maxwell Moss, who is wheelchair bound, was provisionally withdrawn last week for what the prosecution said were humanitarian reasons.
The State has claimed in the plea bargain cases that MPs and agents fraudulently used parliamentary travel vouchers meant only for air travel to cover the costs of hotel accommodation, car rentals and other benefits.
Agents also allegedly booked and issued air tickets, then immediately cancelled them and claimed the tickets as if they were valid flights.
The fraud totalled some R24-million. - Sapa