The Black Lawyers Association says it is “deeply disappointed” that not a single woman was appointed to join a team of advocates briefed to prosecute state capture crimes.
The Sunday Times reported over the weekend that advocates Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, Wim Trengove, Ngwako Maenetje and Geoff Budlender had been briefed.However, Sigogo said: “The legal profession has many known capable female lawyers and those whose potential remains untapped who can do this work meticulously.”
“Women lawyers deserve good paying briefs. [A budget of] R20m cannot only be reserved for male advocates at the total exclusion of female advocates and attorneys.” “Of course, going forward and with other counsel being brought on board on various cases, there will be closer attention to the issue of transformation , including the issue of representation from other bars, to reflect a better geographic spread than just focusing on the Gauteng and Cape Bars.”
Batohi did not name the Guptas or state whether the requests for mutual legal assistance related to them.