EFF man ‘obliged’ to represent Cliff
Storm erupts as party chairman prepares to defend ‘racist’
THE EFF has leapt to the defence of its chairman, advocate Dali Mpofu, who has had to fend off criticism after being announced as the lead counsel in Gareth Cliff ’s R25 million lawsuit against M-Net.
The party said it acknowledged Mpofu’s professional right and obligation to represent anyone.
A Twitter storm erupted on Monday when the news about the representation emerged, with some people expressing their disbelief that Mpofu would fight for Cliff in court over his alleged racial remarks, while others defended him.
Mpofu’s political standing and the perception the public has about Cliff were the driving factors behind the debate.
In a statement sent to The Star’s sister paper, The Mercury, yesterday, EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu said Mpofu had a professional right and obligation to represent whosoever approached and briefed him on any issue that relates to law.
“In our view, professionals carry an obligation to provide any form of professional assistance to all people, irrespective of their race, prejudices and background,” he said.
Nevertheless, Shivambu said, the EFF held the view that Cliff ’s perceived defence of Penny Sparrow’s racist remarks represented the worst form of racism.
“The EFF believes Gareth Cliff is a racist who holds white supremacist views consciously and subconsciously. Cliff ’s recent defence of Penny Sparrow’s reference to blacks as monkeys and her dislike of black skin on the basis that it is freedom of speech is totally unacceptable,” he said.
Shivambu said Mpofu’s representation “of a racist Gareth Cliff” did not mean that the EFF defended racism.
“Lawyers and advocates have a legal obligation to fulfil their professional duties, and the EFF will not prevent professionals from performing their duties. Our commitment and political programme to fight racism and white supremacy whenever such represents itself will continue,” he added.
When asked to respond to the criticism, Mpofu said: “I am professionally barred from commenting according to the rules of the advocates’ profession”.
I am professionally barred from commenting