Group One Advocates

Group One End of Year function On the afternoon of 28 November 2024, members gathered on the Ground floor of chambers for the Group One End of Year function. Led by Peter Lazarus SC, our organisers for this year, Portia Jane Daniell, Peggy Schoeman and Ivumile Andrew Nongogo outdid themselves! We were under strict instruction to dress up “with a touch of blue” to revel in the mouth-watering cocktail foods, gin station and piano-cello duo, it was sure to be one for the books. There was even a mini-competition for members with three events – a Carnival High Striker, a Single Hole Golf course, and a Basketball hoop. Tumelo Qhali won the single hole golf challenge, Aidan Whitaker took home the trophy for the Basketball Hoop, and Phumudzo Managa was the Carnival High Striker champion! This was preceded by speeches from one of our juniors, Cheslin Petersen, one of our Silks, Grace Goedhart SC, and Noel Graves SC who takes up door membership from the 1st of January 2025. The day’s theme – smiles and laughter! With a membership that’s 159 members strong, you can be sure it was a blast!

Following deliberations, the JSC has recommend one of our members, Shaida Mahomed for appointment to the Gauteng Division of the High Court together with: -Prof W E J du Plessis -Adv E C Labuschagne SC -Mr M S Makamu -Judge G N Moshoana -Adv R B Mkhabela SC to fill six vacancies in the Division. We congratulate Ms Mahomed on the JSC’s recommendation of her elevation to bench and we wish her well on the High Court bench.

Group One’s Spring High Tea On an overcast Spring morning, we had our Group High Tea. Despite our best efforts we were unable to coax the sun out to come play, but the party continued. There were lots of laughs shared over all manner of sweet and savoury treats, and the elixir of the gods, coffee! Until next year ☕

The Group One tea in honour of Guy Hoffman (“Hoffie”) and a tribute to him is featured in the August issue of the Advocate journal contributed by one of our group members, Sechaba Mohapi. The tribute is available here: https://lnkd.in/dXW6v988

In Solidarity Trade Union and Others v Minister of Health and Others [2024] ZAGPPHC 677 (24 July 2024), the applicants have brought a challenge to the constitutionality of the Certificate of Need (CON) scheme set out in sections 36 to 40 of the National Health Act 61 of 2003 and the matter has been referred to the Constitutional Court for confirmation in terms of section 167(5) of the Constitution. Our members Greta Engelbrecht SC (profile https:https://lnkd.in/druaFeYH) and Michael Dafel (profile: https://lnkd.in/dC7wABXQ) act for the Solidarity Trade Union in the matter instructed by Serfontein, Viljoen & Swart Attorneys. Our other members Bruce Leech SC is lead counsel for the Hospital Association of South Africa (eighth applicant) and Gavin Rome SC is lead counsel for the Minister of Health and Director General of the National Department of Health (first and third respondents). Read the judgment here: https://lnkd.in/dprSX5am

On 19 June 2024, we hosted the second Group One Annual Jules Browde Lecture proudly sponsored by Investec, this time taking the format of a panel discussion of renowned experts in the public health sector, economics and law moderated by retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo on a topic of broader public interest entitled 'National Health Insurance Quo vadis'? The panel discussed on the topical issue was attended by attorneys, members and guests.

Last evening Group One Advocates hosted the second Group One Annual Jules Browde Lecture proudly sponsored by Investec, this time taking the format of a panel discussion of renowned experts in the public health sector, economics and law moderated by retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo on a topic of broader public interest entitled 'National Health Insurance Quo vadis'? The event was attended by attorneys, members and guests. This second instalment of the Group One Annual Jules Browde Lecture flagship series is fast becoming a permeant feature of The Bailey & Dennis Fine Library in honour of the memory of the spiritual father of Group One, Jules Browde SC (1919-2016), a prominent human rights lawyer under apartheid, a friend of Nelson Mandela, a founder member and chairman of Lawyers for Human Rights and 2008 recipient of the Sydney and Felicia Kentridge Award for service to Law in Southern Africa. The highlights of the panel discussion will be made available on the Group website in due course.

The latest edition of JSA Today (to mark 120 years of the Johannesburg Bar) features the inaugural Group One Jules Browde Public Lecture held on 14 September 2023 in the Group One Advocates members' lounge, The Bailey & Dennis Fine Library. The inaugural Jules Browde Public Lecture was delivered by Supreme Court of Appeal Justice Malcolm Wallis (ret.) on 'Oudekraal, Kirland and the difficulties with self-review'. The full length video recording of the public lecture is available on the Group website at this link: https://lnkd.in/dPC2cmn5

Our members Piet Louw SC and Tizi Merafe appeared for the General Council of the Bar of South Africa (GCB), together with Ndumiso Luthuli of Group 621, instructed by ENS in a matter of national importance in which the GCB and Advocates for Transformation (AFT) are challenging the tender described as “RT19-2024 Establishment of a Panel of Legal Practitioners (attorneys and advocates) to the State for a period of 36 months.” The review challenge is opposed by the Minister of Finance, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General. The application was heard before Mr Justice Millar on 6 June 2024. The hearing is streamed at this link: https://lnkd.in/dnBvkpCD

In celebration of the Group Triplets Maryke Nieuwoudt, Aakifah Louw and Sechaba Mohapi (who share their birthday on 2 June), the Group celebrated with tea, a game of croquet and boules on the 2 Pybus Road building lawn. Members wished the Triplets a hearty 118th (or thereabout)!