Malalane attorney in court on fraud charges: Zietta Janse van Rensburg’s legal woes continue
Zietta Janse van Rensburg explained to the court why she did not attend last week’s court appearance before the case was postponed.
Suspended Malalane attorney Zietta Janse van Rensburg faced the court from the accused box this morning on charges of fraud, forgery, and uttering.
Stripped of her legal toga, Janse van Rensburg was dressed in a cream top and pink pants during the proceedings, which only lasted a few minutes as the case was postponed to August 5.
Janse van Rensburg, who did not attend her first court date on July 17, informed the prosecutor that she was testifying in a court case in Mookgophong (formerly Naboomspruit).
State prosecutor Zandile Mahlalela requested Janse van Rensburg to provide the court with the subpoena to prove that she was indeed called to testify.
Proceedings started with Mahlalela informing Magistrate Jacob Mamabolo that Janse van Rensburg only provided the court with proof for July 15 and 16, but not for her court date on July 17.
Janse van Rensburg, representing herself, told the court that her testimony during the Mookgophong case rolled over to the 17th and she was asked by the presiding officer to stay over for another day.
Mahlalela acknowledged Janse van Rensburg’s explanation and Janse van Rensburg undertook to provide the court with proof of her absence for July 17.
The fraud charges stem from a settlement agreement between two parties, of which Janse van Rensburg represented one. The agreement was allegedly fraudulent.
This court appearance is not related to any of the multiple stories Lowvelder has reported during the past few months.
In a recent story, Lowvelder reported that William and Bronwyn Findlay’s accounts were frozen by Capitec Bank. Today marks 12 weeks since they have been able to access their funds, and the Findlays remain baffled about who initiated the account freeze.
The Legal Practice Council (LPC) has denied any involvement and Capitec’s legal firm, Werksmans Attorneys, has not provided clarity on this specific question, despite several enquiries sent to them by Lowvelder. The only thing the Findlays know is that Janse van Rensburg is central to their misfortune.
The matter is now being investigated by the Ombudsman for Banking Services.
Janse van Rensburg recently started documenting her version of events in a podcast series posted on Spotify. The third edition of the series, called Skeletons Unearthed, was posted last week.
In the latest podcast, Janse van Rensburg provides an intriguing explanation of her involvement with the Mpakeni Mlegeni Communal Property Association (referred to as the CPA) and the Lower Kaap Irrigation Board.
In the podcast, Janse van Rensburg implicates Onderberg farmer Alwyn van Graan, who was the former chairperson of the board when a dispute arose about the voting rights of certain members at the annual general meeting.
Both Van Graan and the CPA have laid complaints against Janse van Rensburg with the LPC.
The CPA’s secretary, Zambia Banda, told Lowvelder during a meeting earlier this year that they were going to pursue legal action against her.
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za