Claims and court cases against Umhlanga attorney Shahir Ramdass — who was suspended by the Legal Practice Council (LPC) in September last year — are racking up.
The LPC in KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed after Ramdass' suspension, it had received more than 30 new complaints against him, relating to misappropriation of trust monies.
“The complaints have been referred to the investigating committee for consideration. The committee is currently finalising its reports, which will determine whether the LPC approaches the high court for an order striking his name from the roll,” the council said in a statement.
TimesLIVE Premium is also aware of at least four cases lodged with courts in which sellers of properties are attempting to get back money paid into his trust account by purchasers.
The money, they say, disappeared.
The LPC launched the suspension application in the Pietermaritzburg High Court after receiving three complaints from clients who alleged he “rolled” trust fund money in a property transaction, failed to wind up a deceased estate after seven years and “transferred”, without authority, R5m from another deceased estate.
The floodgates opened with dozens of other complaints landing on the LPC’s desk and claims lodged with the Fidelity Fund.
Because it is a fund of “last resort”, complainants first have to satisfy it that they have taken all other legal measures to get back their money.
One of those affected — as previously reported on by the TimesLIVE Premium — was a 99-year-old widow, who was forced to spend money on lawyers to bring a court application against Ramdass in an attempt to get back almost R640,000 — the proceeds of the sale of her home and her only asset — that he allegedly misappropriated.
However, the application, and others, have been stalled after one of Ramdass’s alleged victims brought an urgent application in the Pietermaritzburg High Court at the end of May, placing Ramdass into provisional sequestration.
Ramdass and other interested parties have until the end of July to oppose the finalisation of this application.
In his affidavit, Tahir Akoo, CEO of property development company Pappamia, accuses Ramdass of “dishonesty”, not only in relation to property deals he was handling for him, but also in relation to a VAT transaction.
He said his firm had developed a 60-unit residential sectional title scheme “The Onyx” in Umhlanga near Gateway.
Ramdass and Associates had been appointed as conveyancers.
We are aware of the order granted sequestrating Mr Ramdass' estate, which will also be taken into account in the recommendations that are expected from the investigating committee
— LPC
During 2023 and early 2024, 22 of the 36 units sold and were transferred to their respective purchasers, he said. He continuously followed up regarding the sales of the remaining 14 units that had been sold but not transferred.
“It seemed to be taking an inordinately long time,” Akoo said.
Ramdass had given him various excuses, including that some had to be relodged, he was waiting for rates clearance certificates and there were delays in the deeds office.
“I procured from the deeds office online portal a list of the units and their dates of transfer. This revealed that they had already been transferred.”
Finally, in May, he confronted Ramdass who had then admitted the transfers had all taken place between December 2023 and April 2024. Ramdass signed an acknowledgment of debt, on behalf of the firm, his family trust and personally for just under R10m. But Ramdass did not pay by the stipulated deadline of the end of March 2025.
Akoo said at a meeting Ramdass had asked for more time, and furnished copies of two sale agreements in terms of which his family trust was selling two properties.
But, Akoo said, both were subject to suspensive conditions, the raising of mortgage bonds in substantial amounts, and “accordingly there is no certainly at all that those contracts would be implemented”. Because of this, he refused the extension.
Akoo said his firm had also given Durban Coastal Invest (Pam Golding) a mandate to sell the properties.
Ramdass had not paid the agent's commissions and Durban Coastal Invest was now suing him for R546,000 plus interest.
Akoo said his attorney, Andrew Donnelly, had also uncovered another case pending against Ramdass. This involved the transfer of a property from a private company, Even Grand, to the KwaDukuza municipality for R83m.
Sars had determined VAT of R12.5m was payable on the transaction. The municipality paid it to Ramdass however he allegedly did not pay Sars.
Sars was now claiming the VAT from Even Grand, who in turn, was now also suing Ramdass.
“He has stolen the money and he is unable to pay it back,” Akoo said. “He concealed sales and has provided no explanation for the shortfall or what he did with our money or the R12.5m that he was obliged to pay to Sars. It is in the interests of justice his estate be sequestrated as soon as possible.”
Judge Siphokazi Jikela granted the provisional order on May 26.
The LPC said: “We are aware of the order granted sequestrating Mr Ramdass' estate, which will also be taken into account in the recommendations that are expected from the investigating committee.”
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