It’s a bar fight with a difference.
Seria said her woes started after she queried an increase in floor dues - used to pay for beverages, services and staff salaries, among other things – from R2,500 to R3,000 a month, by members of Group 10 in 2015. She said she could not afford the increase and voted against it, resigning from the group in January 2016. But she kept her chambers on the same floor as Group 10, near the courts.
Six months after she resigned, Group 10 complained to the Bar Council that her conduct was unbecoming of an advocate, saying she had failed to pay her floor dues since December 2015. “Without telling me, Group 10 cut my services,” said Seria. “I have been sitting there without a landline, I have no choice but to walk around with my mobile internet. I had to borrow money to buy myself a coffee machine.”“Many black advocates have left the bar,” she said. “I want to put the truth out there.
Seria challenged her suspension in the high court, but it ruled that she should exhaust all internal remedies before approaching the courts. She challenged the court's decision all the way to the Constitutional Court, but that court upheld the high court’s ruling. This week, Seria said she had returned to the high court because the Cape Bar had refused to deal with the matter.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Over 17 Unisa modules leaked before exams | The StarAn exam leak scandal has rocked Unisa for the second time this year but the institution insists that its assessments can still be trusted. TheStar_news
Read more »
Mali army says 24 soldiers, 17 militants killed in attack on northern patrol
Read more »
Ramaphosa appoints 15 new High Court judgesPresident Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed 15 new High Court judges, the Presidency says.
Read more »
Senior KZN State advocate dies after accidental court shootingIt is believed a loaded gun was brought into the court as part of evidence in a case that was being heard in uMzimkhulu on Monday.
Read more »
KZN advocate dies after gun accident in courtAn investigation has been launched into the death of senior state advocate who died in a gun accident in court.
Read more »