Justice Minister Masutha prefers black women representing him in court
Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha prefers to have black women represent him in court. Masutha said this on Wednesday at a symposium hosted by the Office of the State Attorney‚ where he spoke about the role state attorneys can play in speeding up transformation in the legal field.“I would prefer‚ in all litigation where I am a party as the minister…a female counsel‚ preferably African…to take up my case regardless of the complexity‚” he said.“If we are serious about transformation we need to be personal about it."Masutha said state attorneys have a responsibility to ensure that‚ wherever possible‚ advocates from previously disadvantaged groups are briefed to defend the government.Of the R638,272 worth of briefs given to advocates by state attorneys in the previous financial year‚ 76% went to advocates from previously disadvantaged groups.This is on par with the state attorney's office's targets‚ acting chief litigation officer Mohube Phahlane said.Though there is some progress in transformation‚ many argue that it is not enough.Advocate Nana Makhubele SC‚ chairperson of the Pretoria Bar‚ said that she is one of only four black female advocates among the about 600 advocates at the Pretoria Bar.About a hundred of the 600 are black‚ she said. - TMG Courts and Law..
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