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By Citizen Reporter

Journalist


The EFF does not agree with Mpofu representing Moyane

EFF leader says Mpofu has the right to take up any case that he so wishes, even though they may not like it.


The emergence last week of the fact that Advocate Dali Mpofu, the national chairperson of the EFF, would defend suspended Sars boss Tom Moyane on disciplinary charges brought against him sparked an argument on social media.

https://twitter.com/Khaswi_/status/992458840103964673

Some questioned how Mpofu, a leader of the EFF, which had called for Moyane to step down and later welcomed his suspension, could then defend the suspended Sars boss in court?

However, others argued that, as an advocate, Mpofu had every right to take up any case he wanted.

Mpofu told Huffington Post South Africa earlier this week that cases were “brought” to him and that he did not “take up” any.

EFF leader Julius Malema told journalists during the party’s media breakfast today that the organisation did not agree with Mpofu representing Moyane.

“But it is his profession, and we also do not control his diary. The advocate has the right to take on any case that he so wishes to. We may be emotional about it, but somebody has to do it,” Malema said.

He said Moyane had a right to legal representation and that if it was unethical for Mpofu to represent Moyane, then it was unethical for any advocate to represent the suspended Sars boss.

President Cyril Ramaphosa suspended Moyane in March, stating in a scathing letter addressed to the suspended Sars boss that he had lost confidence in Moyane’s ability to lead Sars over a number of scandals that had dogged the service during his tenure.

This morning, Patricia de Lille, who was ousted from the DA for being in breach of the party’s constitution, announced that Mpofu would be part of her legal team challenging the termination of her DA membership in court tomorrow.

READ MORE: EFF chair Dali Mpofu joins De Lille’s legal team

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