Mangaliso Magagula retains Law Society Presidency position
TOP lawyer, Mangaliso Magagula has been voted back as President of the Law Society together with a number of the Executive Committee members.
Sidumo Mdladla was re-elected vice president with Charity Simelane also retaining her secretary General position. Thulani Sibandze is the new treasurer, replacing Jose Rodrigues while Zweli Shabangu, Kwanele Magagula, Xolile Mnisi and Hasso Magagula were also elected.
The elections happened on Saturday at Mafini Lodge during the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Mangaliso Magagula, who has bounced as President, took over the reins from Lucky Howe on April 26, 2021, in the Executive Committee that had Charity Simelane as vice president and the late Thulani Maseko as its secretary general.
Secretary General Charity Simelane told the Eswatini Sunday that the elections went smoothly and the membership was updated on the various pending issues including the complaint against Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala wherein the Law Society wants the CJ to stop the Judicial Commission of Inquiry currently probing the Master of the High Court office for alleged gross maladministration, abuse of power and embezzlement of estate monies.
“Basically, we reported back to the members that we did meet the Prime Minister on the complaints we had about the CJ, and he asked us to write to him and we have also handed the complaints again to the new Minister of Justice Prince Simelane,” Simelane said.
The Society, in a letter copied to Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo, said the Chief Justice had usurped the Justice Minister’s powers, something that could cause a constitutional crisis by establishing the commission without authority.
The Law Society said the Chief Justice’s actions in establishing the commission without legal authority were unlawful, invalid and no legal consequence could arise from an unlawful act.
The Society further called on the CJ (Maphalala) to reconsider his decision to establish the inquiry and defer the establishment of the commission to the lawful authority.
“Ironically, a Parliamentary investigation into the Master’s office was stopped by an application instituted by the chief justice. The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs (Prince Simelane) is the minister under whose responsibility the administration of estates falls as per Legal Notice No. 189 of 2015, Assignments of Responsibilities. The Minister has the mandate and is empowered by the laws of the country to establish such an enquiry, but your office does not have such mandate and power,” reads the letter in part.
NEW LAW SOCIETY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President – Mangaliso Magagula
Vice President – Sidumo Mdladla
Secretary General – Charity Simelane Treasurer – Thulani Sibandze
Members – Zweli Shabangu, Kwanele Magagula, Hasso Magagula and Xolile Mnisi