The Tshwane Metro’s choice and continued use of lawyers with a very low success rate is starting to raise eyebrows.
According to a report compiled by Advocate Job Malobola, the Metro’s Divisional Head of the Legal Counsel, there are currently more than 3 473 unresolved legal cases. The financial exposure of these pending cases, some dating back to 2008, exceeds R12,5 billion.
Meanwhile, the delivery of basic services is neglected while millions are wasted on avoidable legal actions.
This report is not merely a list of unresolved cases, but a damning indictment of a system that has spiralled into financial mismanagement, recklessness and corruption. Cadre deployment has turned the Legal Division into a feeding trough for politically connected advisors and cadres.
Competence has been replaced by loyalty, and accountability by impunity.
To make matters even worse, most lawyers on the Metro’s legal panel are based in Johannesburg and Sandton, undoubtedly contributing to the Metro’s exorbitant legal costs.
The success rate of these legal panel members is disappointing and calls their professionalism and competence into question.
The party also wants to know why competent, local lawyers are not appointed instead.
The Freedom Front Plus will keep objecting to the appointment of incompetent lawyers in meetings of the section 79 Committee for Corporate and Shared Services.
In addition, the party will insist that competent, in-house lawyers are appointed for a fraction of the cost that the Metro Council is currently paying its panel of lawyers.
It is time for the Metro to reconsider its legal strategy, utilise local expertise and tie appointments to results rather than geographical location or political loyalty.
The residents of the Tshwane Metro deserve better.
