The Legal Practice Council (LPC) is proceeding with a striking application against Zuko Nonxuba, who has been linked to multiple cases of fraud involving the theft of legal claims from disabled children.
The lawyer is on trial for fraud in at least two cases in the Eastern Cape, reports LegalBrief. It’s alleged that under the pretence of helping the children’s mothers, he would claim medical negligence damages from the Department of Health and retain the bulk of the funds.
The Constitutional Court denied Nonxuba the right to appeal his suspension. In a statement received by Legalbrief, the LPC confirmed it was proceeding with an application to strike Nonxuba from the roll of legal practitioners, and to assist the victims.
Nonxuba was suspended under an order from the Western Cape High Court on 18 April 2022, but after his appeals to the SCA and then the Constitutional Court, the operation of the suspension order was itself suspended.
However, since the dismissal of his last appeal by the apex court on 3 August, the 2022 order is now in force and Nonxuba is suspended from practising as an attorney. He is alleged to have misappropriated hundreds of millions of rands that were paid into his trust account but which were due to his former clients after he had successfully litigated against the Health Department in medical malpractice cases.
The courts had ordered him – in all cases where minors were involved – to establish trusts on behalf of the claimants and to ensure they received compensation as beneficiaries of the trusts.
However, he is accused of misappropriating the money.
The LPC said the investigation of misconduct was severely hampered by him continuously approaching the courts in an attempt to avoid being held accountable.
The LPC has engaged the Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund (LPFF) to urgently assist with the payment to the beneficiaries whose funds were paid into Nonxuba’s trust account, particularly the children who are facing major health challenges or are in hospital.
“The LPC calls on any other victims or people who have used Zuko Nonxuba for medical malpractice cases, especially in the Eastern Cape, Free State and Gauteng, to come forward… that they were not fully assisted with their cases or claims,” said LPC spokesperson Kabelo Letebele.
LegalBrief article – LPC urges fraud victims to come forward (Restricted access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Lawyers probed over millions due to disabled children
Attorney barred after making millions from dubious medical negligence claims
Eastern Cape Health interdicts attorney’s R79m payout move