Mpofu dismisses charges against him as frivolous, laughable and embarrassing

JOHANNESBURG - Advocate Dali Mpofu has dismissed the charges against him by the Legal Practice Council (LPC) as frivolous, laughable and embarrassing.

The senior council is being taken to the LPC to answer to several charges of alleged misconduct.

The majority of complaints are made by the Centre for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) and relate to Mpofu’s conduct during Parliament’s inquiry into former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office.

Out of the seven charges against Mpofu, six are complaints by CASAC, and they include his conduct when he cross-examined former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela in Parliament, during the inquiry into Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office.

The senior council said he was appalled that the LPC was falling for cheap politicking by entertaining the complaints against him.

"It’s clearly some kind of witch hunt, which we will deal with. It is to be expected for someone who fights for justice. If you see the charges, they are quite embarrassing. Embarrassing to think that they were drafted by people who are legally trained. I mean, how do you charge someone for cross-examination of Thuli Madonsela and trying to discredit the witness, that’s the purpose of cross-examination."

Mpofu is also being charged for allegedly impugning the character of former South African National Revenue (SARS) executive Johann van Loggerenberg, who was another witness during the Mkhwebane inquiry.

During that sitting, Mpofu asked Van Loggerenberg if he was suffering from some psychological condition.

He has dismissed that charge as much ado about nothing.

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