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Wednesday, 2 April 2025
Attorney in hot water with the legal system
Court condemns actions TEBOHO SETENA
Dishonesty of the highest order – this is how a Free State High Court judge described the conduct of disbarred attorney Lebohang Michael Mokhele (40), who resurfaced practicing under the surname Sondhlane. The judge’s utterance followed the apparent evasive conduct the former practicing attorney displayed during his appeal hearing in September 2023, against the decision of the Legal Practice Council (LPC) to suspend his certificate to practice based on strong prima facie evidence of alleged corruption. Mokhele (Sondhlane) purportedly swindled large amounts of money from the trust account of Xolile MacDonald Yawa and Mathabo Emily Tau. The persons had enlisted his services for their respective matters. The LPC, which is the regulatory body for legal practitioners, made some adverse findings against Sondhlane, ultimately leading to his disbarring from the roll in January 2024. Despite being struck from the roll, Sondhlane continued with his business. Ultimately, the Hawks arrested
Sondhlane in connection with fraud charges and being in contempt of court in the Free State High Court on Tuesday, 25 March, where he was due to represent one of the accused persons in the R255 million asbestos contract awarded by the Free State Department of Human Settlements. He was apprehended shortly after acting Judge President Martha Mbhele told him he had no right to appear before her and ordered him out of the court. Col Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the disbarred attorney appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on charges of fraud, contempt of court, and contravention of the Legal Practice Act. He confirmed Sondhlane had been in the High Court the previous day, representing one of the fraud-accused in the asbestos matter. “The asbestos matter was postponed to the following day, 25 March, to afford Sondhlane an opportunity to prove that he was still certified, which he failed to do. The Hawks’ detectives, who were in court, arrested him for misrepresenting himself as a legal representative,” said Mohobeleli. The LPC struck Sondhlane off the roll in January 2024 after suspending him based on the strength of evidence of alleged misconduct, relating to his
alleged defrauding of two persons. His certificate to practice was revoked and rendered invalid. He was unsuccessful in his appeal to overturn the judgment for striking him off the roll by the LPC. The LPC has since updated the details of Sondhlane on its list of attorneys struck off the roll on its website, using Lebohang Michael Sondhlane. He had been practising under the name and style of LM Mokhele INC since 2011, and operated from 117 President Reitz Avenue in Westdene, Bloemfontein. The LPC probing revealed that Sondhlane had invoiced the complainant Yawa R165 000 for services not rendered. Following Yawa’s enquiry, the amount was reduced to R45 000, paid on 26 February 2021. This was used as evidence to disbar him. The LPC’s probing in the case of Tau revealed unauthorised withdrawals of funds (in various transactions amounting to more than R1 million), and that no payments were made to any of the estate’s creditors. Once a TV pundit, and regarded an expert law analyst, Sondhlane is expected to reappear in court on 2 June to answer to all accusations levelled against him. Mohobeleli said he had been granted bail of R1 000.
The disbarred legal practioner Lebohang Michael Mokhele Sondhlane. Photo: Supplied
Slain teacher’s family relieved suspect’s bail was denied TEBOHO SETENA The family of slain teacher Mpho Judith Moalosi is relieved that bail was denied for the prime murder suspect, Songezo Steven Sejakane (42), paving the way for the murder trial in the Free State High Court. Judgement in the bail application was delivered on 25 March, ending Sejakane’s bail bid – which had been ongoing since June last year, after the police arrested him in connection with the ruthless murder of Moalosi. Pule Mokhele, father of the deceased, said the refusal of bail gave them much hope in finding justice for his slain daughter. “As a family, we are relieved that bail has been turned down. ““We are very thankful for the
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support we have been receiving from people and community organisations such as Buang Basadi, Man Up Ndoda, and anti-gender-based violence (GBV) groups that stood up and gave reasons why the state should object to Sejakane’s bail application,” said Mokhele. He also praised the investigative officer who probed the case and worked with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The officer also made a presentation objecting to Sejakane’s bail application, further indicating that he was a flight risk. The grief-stricken Mokhele has been attending the hearings since the first day Sejakane appeared regarding Moalosi’s alleged murder. At some hearings he was accompanied by other daughter Rethabile Mathafeng,
and two children of Moalosi. Women’s rights advocacy groups filed petitions opposing Sejakane’s application for bail and further galvanised support since his arrest. The refusal of bail extends his stay in the prison cell since his arrest on 17 June last year. In this bail application, Sejakane explored all avenues, ranging from illhealth in regard to an asthmatic condition, food poisoning and purported risky conditions in the prison cell where he is remanded. In addition, he cited the severity of the situation for his two adopted children. Sejakane's attorney submitted two additional affidavits, and went further to explore case laws. Sejakane has not pleaded in this case of of Moalosi, who taught at the Tsoseletso Secondary School.
Father of the slain teacher Mpho Judith Moalosi, Pule Mokhele, and daughter Rethabile Mathafeng during the hearing of the bail application of Songezo Steven Sejakane, accused of murdering Moalosi. Photo: Supplied.
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