Estate agent cries foul over legal aid

RACIST RANT: DEADLINE FOR APPOINTING NEW LAWYER

Prosecutor says Momberg is speaking with a ‘forked tongue’.

Estate agent Vicki Momberg has again postponed accounting for her racist actions in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court after firing her Legal Aid SA attorney in court.

Momberg is accused of eight counts of crimen injuria after she went on a racist rant in February against black police officers in Northriding, Randburg, following an alleged smash-and-grab incident.

“I lost faith in Legal Aid because of confidential information that leaked. Also, I don’t have faith in the attorney,” Momberg explained in court, saying she still wanted legal representation.

Momberg complained Legal Aid SA wanted power of attorney over her bank account and she wasn’t prepared to grant it.

“Whatever you think you want or think you could do, is not possible. Either accept Legal Aid the way it is and what they have to offer to you in respect of their services, or conduct your own defence,” a stern Magistrate Pravina Raghunandan said.

Momberg maintained she wasn’t prepared to hand over power of attorney and she had taken the matter up with Legal Aid SA head office.

Trying to find a lawyer was “basically a full-time job” Momberg said. “I really do feel I need to be given enough leniency to get fair representation.”

Raghunandan said: “Well, it appears to the court that they don’t meet your standards so you can’t pick and choose which attorney you want, or the terms and conditions you want to apply.”

Prosecutor Yusuf Baba accused Momberg of speaking with a “forked tongue”.

“Ms Momberg knew very well what she was going to do today. Whether she will get people or not is irrelevant,” said Baba.

“She knew well in advance she was terminating the mandate of Legal Aid and the response she’s giving this court speaks with a forked tongue.

“One minute she’s terminated the mandate, then she hasn’t done the means test. This is once again a delaying tactic.”

The estate agent was recorded on a mobile device railing against black people during a phone call. The recording was uploaded to YouTube, from where it went viral. She was arrested in June.

“One k **** r is bad enough. This happens all the time, all the time. The k ***** s here in Johannesburg are terrible, I'm so sick of it,” Momburg is recorded as saying.

Raghunandan gave Momberg a February 2 date to get legal representation. –