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Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services today emphatically stated that it wants the public interest law sector, which will enhance the life of poor South Africans, prioritised.

Committee Chairperson, Dr Mathole Motshekga, expressed the Committee’s concern during a presentation on the Legal Practice Amendment Bill. “When we dealt with the Bill previously we expressed concern about the exclusion of paralegals. Now new amendments are brought to the Committee but it still does not address this matter. Paralegals provide access to justice. Why does this legislation before us not mention anything about this?”

Dr Motshekga said the current Legal Practice Amendment Bill is rather of a technical nature and it addresses the business side of the legal profession and leaves out the side that touches the lives of ordinary people.

The Legal Practice Bill makes provision for an interim National Forum which came into existence on 1 February 2015 with a lifespan of three years. Its mandate was originally intended to be limited to what was thought to be absolutely essential for purposes of preparing for the installation of the new regulatory structures as contemplated in the Act. The Committee took exception to the fact that certain youth formations are not represented in the National Forum.

“Students are directly affected. Yet, Law Students Councils at Universities, the Association of Unemployed Graduates and the Association of Advice Centres are not represented in the National Forum,” said Dr Motshekga. Major role players in the Public Interest Law Sectors such as community law centres and centres for human rights at universities are not included in the National Forum. The Public Interest Law Sector is the surest guarantee for access to justice by ordinary citizens.

Dr Motshekga emphasised that South Africa has a powerful public interest law sector which includes community law centres, community-based legal advice centres and university law centres. “We need to make transformation of the legal profession participatory by including all these sectors,” he said.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, Dr Mathole Motshekga