‘They should be embarrassed’: Mpofu slams charges as disciplinary hearing postponed

Advocate Dali Mpofu has dismissed the misconduct charges against him as “nonsensical” following the postponement of his disciplinary inquiry before the Legal Practice Council (LPC).

The legal practitioner was scheduled to appear on Wednesday before an independent disciplinary committee at the LPC’s offices in Pretoria.

Dali Mpofu’s charges

Mpofu faced seven charges of misconduct, including matters involving former public protector Thuli Madonsela and Chief Justice Mandisa Maya.

The charge related to Maya stemmed from comments Mpofu made about her during a Judicial Service Commission (JSC) interview process for the position of chief justice in February 2022.

At the time, Mpofu stated that he had spent nights with Maya during their time in law school.

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The remark was criticised as inappropriate and potentially defamatory due to its perceived sexual innuendo.

Additional charges included Mpofu’s alleged threats against Qubudile Dyantyi, who chaired the Section 194 impeachment inquiry into former public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

The charge involving Madonsela related to Mpofu’s cross-examination of the former public protector at the same inquiry, during which he sought to “discredit” her by questioning her status as an admitted advocate.

LPC amends charge sheet

Wednesday’s inquiry was, however, disrupted by a power outage.

The chairperson of the disciplinary process, Daniel Mpanza, announced that the LPC had revised its charge sheet.

“There are only four charges against Advocate Mpofu,” Mpanza confirmed during a media briefing.

He explained that Mpofu would still have the opportunity to respond to the remaining charges.

Two charges relating to Madonsela and one involving Maya had been withdrawn.

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Mpanza indicated that the complainants had expressed unwillingness to proceed with the matter.

“The chief justice didn’t want to proceed. It affects her and all those things. It’s personal,” the chairperson said.

He further stated that the hearing has been postponed and a new date will be communicated in due course.

“The LPC will inform us of the date upon which we have to appear again.”

Mpofu responds to ‘laughable charges’

Speaking to the media after the postponement, Mpofu described the inquiry as “a mighty waste of our time”.

“Whenever they want to waste our time again, we will be here. We will be available,” he told SABC.

The lawyer also criticised the charges against him.

“This whole thing is a witch hunt which is politically motivated.

“I mean, some of these charges, as I said, are very laughable, to say the least, and those laughable charges have been dropped to prove that they were indeed laughable.

“Even the remaining ones, I think, are just nonsensical, equally so it’s a question of time. The climb down by the LPC in withdrawing these charges was something to be expected,” Mpofu said.

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He continued: “They are ridiculous, ludicrous, senseless and laughable. That’s why they’ve been dropped because there’s nothing to them. You can’t, for example, say a lawyer is charged for discrediting a witness.

“That’s what lawyers do. A first-year law student will tell you that that’s what you are trained to do.”

Mpofu further slammed the LPC for pursuing charges without apparent consultation with Maya and Madonsela.

“How did they do the charges without talking to them?” he asked, suggesting the council “should be embarrassed” by the turn of events.