Klinkenberg: R24 million paid out to former clients

Joost van der Westhuizen's claim denied.

Joost van der Westhuizen. (Photo: Submitted)

The Law Society of the Northern Province’s fidelity fund has received claims to the value of R40 million from former clients of Klinkenberg Incorporated.

Thus far the fidelity fund, which exists to remunerate clients who have been defrauded by their lawyers, has paid out R24 million towards the 118 claims they have received.

The fund has declined Springbok rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen’s claim though, saying that money paid to a lawyer to be invested cannot be claimed from the fund.

Director of Klinkenberg Incorporated, Robert Klinkenberg, who was found dead of a gunshot wound on 3 December last year, was Van der Westhuizen’s long time lawyer. Van der Westhuizen, who is seriously ill with motor neuron disease, allegedly said he needs the money before he dies. The amount he wants from the fund is in the vicinity of R380 000.

Van der Westhuizen is now taking the fund to court.

Meanwhile the investigation into the death of Klinkenberg continues.

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