Our lawyer is letting us down, says evicted Diepsloot family
DIEPSLOOT – Read about how a poor Diepsloot family claims to be let down by a lawyer .
Following the intervention of Fourways Review, the evicted Diepsloot family’s case is now heading back to court.
The family found themselves out on the street after Patrick Nkqayi’s former girlfriend sold his RDP home behind his back, and he allegedly paid Antonio Khupane R22 000 to fight his case in court.
The family’s lawyer has now yielded to this paper’s pressure and somersaulted on his threats to refund them and withdraw from the case.
The development followed after Nkqayi expressed to this paper his disappointment over the raw deal he was getting from Khupane.
Read: Diepsloot family dumped onto cold street before Mandela Day
Patrick and Monika Nkqayi, along with their 12- and eight-year-old children are, however, still living on the streets. Their two children have missed school since 18 July as, with nowhere to live, the family has no access to water to wash their school uniforms.
Previously, Khupane successfully opposed Nkqayi’s eviction when he was thrown out a few months ago, however, the legal team remained out of action when an appeal was launched, despite allegedly being paid for the services.
This led to Nkqayi’s second eviction. “I paid him R22 000 out of the R23 000 he charged me, but he did not come to court to fight the appeal,” claimed Nkqayi.
Khupane told this paper on 17 July that he was fed up with Nkqayi’s case, adding that he was prepared to pay him back his money. He also revealed that he paid R7 300 to Advocate Krystol Adams, who was representing Nkqayi in the High Court.
The Randburg attorney said Nkqayi paid him only R17 000 and disputed his R22 000 payment claim. Nkqayi is, however, adamant, maintaining that he has receipts to prove his R22 000 payments to the legal eagle. “Only R1 000 was outstanding out of the R23 000 he charged me to handle the case,” he said.
Read: UPDATE: Child (3) in critical condition after being dropped from balcony
Advocate Adams said she was initially paid R4 000 and the other payment only reflected on 18 July after Fourways Review made inquiries with Khupane. “I am not taking any more cases from Mr Khupane,” she said.
“I have been to court twice and he paid me only R4 000, and the other payment you are referring to only reflected in my account today.
“He owes me R15 000, but paid me far less. In as much as I want to help Patrick, I can’t continue working without being paid.”
When Nkqayi turned up for a meeting on 20 July, Khupane, sang a different tune. He did not refund Nkqayi his money as promised but, instead said he will continue with the case and promised to give him a court date.
Read: Horsy business
Nkqayi expressed appreciation over this paper’s coverage of his case. “He did not pay me back but said it was better to continue with the case. I am now waiting for a court date,” he said.
Khupane did not respond to SMS and voice messages which this paper sent him.
Read more:
Woman kidnapped and raped by 3 men in false Uber vehicle
No rent, no lights – or no rent, no rights
