President Jacob Zuma wishes to announce the appointment of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, the Head of the Special Investigating Unit, as well as the Director of Public Prosecutions of the jurisdictional area of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court.
Mr Mxolisi Sandile Oliver Nxasana has been appointed as the National Director of Public Prosecutions with effect from 1 October 2013. Mr Nxasana currently practices as an attorney with a wealth of experience in criminal litigation, coupled with his having occupied senior positions in the legal profession including the Chairpersonship of the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society.
Mr Vasantrai Soni (SC) has been appointed to head the Special Investigating Unit with effect from 1 October 2013. Advocate Soni is a Senior Counsel with some 25 years experience and played a crucial role as Chief Evidence Leader in the Jali Commission of Enquiry into corruption in prisons in South Africa.
Advocate Sophy Moipone Dinah Noko has been appointed as Director of Public Prosecutions of the jurisdictional area of KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court of South Africa with effect from 1 September 2013.
President Zuma extended his congratulations to the three appointees and wished them well in their endeavours, confident that their appointments will lend credibility, integrity and stability to the institutions which they now will lead.
Profiles of the new NDPP and SIU Head
Curriculum Vitae: Vasantrai Soni
Date and place of birth
5 October 1947 (Durban)
Academic qualifications
· MA (Philosophy): 1977 (UDW) [with distinction]
· LLB: 1985 (Wits) [with distinction]
Awards
· DAAD Scholarship to study Philosophy at Mainz University in Germany
· Harvard-SA Scholarship to study Philosophy at Harvard University
Working experience outside law
I worked as a journalist at various newspapers including Post Newspapers and the Rand Daily Mail, where I was the Deputy Chief Sub-editor. During the period that the Rand Daily Mail published its exclusive investigation into what has since become known as the Information Scandal I was effectively in charge of its Sub-Editors’ Room.
Experience as a lawyer
· Prior to going into private practice, I worked at the Legal Resources Centre at its Durban and Port Elizabeth Offices.
· I was admitted to the Bar in 1987.
· I have been in private practice as an advocate since 1987, first in Durban and thereafter in Johannesburg, where I am presently based.
· I have appeared as counsel in most courts – from the High Court to the Constitutional Court. Prior to our first democratic elections, a large part of my practice centred on “political” or “unrest-related” cases, which were for the most part in the criminal Courts – either the then Supreme Court or the Regional Court. At that stage, I was involved mostly in criminal cases.
· I was an Investigator and Evidence Leader on the Skweyiya Commission of Enquiry into Corruption in Bophuthatswana. The chairperson of the Commission is now a Justice of the Constitutional Court. The team of which I became a part was required to investigate the acts of the Government of Mr Lucas Mangope and lead the evidence that it had gathered so that the Chairperson of the Enquiry could make recommendations to the President on the steps to be taken against officials who had been implicated in acts of corruption. I was appointed as an Investigator and Evidence Leader when Advocate Bernard Ngoepe (the recently retired Judge President of Gauteng) left to become a Judge. I served on this Commission for about nine months – from the time of my appointment to the conclusion of its work.
· I was appointed as Chairperson of a Committee of Enquiry into Racism at the Mthubathuba Police Station. This Committee had been established after a number of black members of the South African Police Service had complained about being victims of racist practices perpetrated by the Station Commissioner and other white senior officers of the Mthubathuba Police Station. The work of this Committee lasted about two months.
· I was the Chief Evidence Leader of the Jali Commission of Enquiry into Corruption in Prisons in South Africa. In addition to leading evidence before the Commission, I was required to give direction in the investigations that were conducted by a dedicated team of lawyers who were tasked with exposing the corrupt practices of prison officers, who used the ordinarily inaccessible areas behind high prison walls to cover their nefarious activities. These included the secretive and corrupt relationships that they had developed with prisoners and their families and friends. I led most of the evidence that was placed before the Commission. I served on this Commission for about 20 months.
· Much earlier in my junior years in practice I served as a part-time Commissioner on the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (the CCMA).
· I was appointed as Senior Counsel in 2002.
· I have on various occasions been appointed as an Acting Judge of the Labour Court and the High Court. In the Labour Court, I sat in all the major centres where the Court is located. In the High Court, I sat in Durban and Johannesburg. Whilst sitting in Durban, I presided over a number of criminal trials.
· I sometimes serve as an arbitrator – mainly in civil disputes.
· I am at present a member of the Judicial Service Committee.
Curriculum Vitae: Mxolisi Sandile Oliver Nxasana
Personal details
Languages: English, IsiZulu, Afrikaans, Xhosa
Educational qualifications
Tertiary: University of Zululand
Undergraduate - B. Proc (From 1989 - 1992)
Postgraduate - LLB (From 1993 – 1995)
Business objective
To build a friendly working environment where everyone’s views are listened to and valued.
Key skills and areas of competence
· Drafting and Reviewing Contracts
· Policy Interpretation, Implementation and Review
· People Management
· Deal Execution
· Strong Negotiation and analysis Skills
· Strong Interpersonal Skills
· Strong Communication Skills (Business Writing and Presentations)
· Director of Companies
· High Court Litigation experience
· MS word, Excel and Powerpoint
Professional experience
· 1994 – 1996: Joined the firm Ngubane & Partners in Durban as a Candidate Attorney and served Articles of Clerkship. I was responsible for all the Magistrates Court work (both Civil and Criminal), drafting of High Court documents and preparing briefs for Advocates, Administration of Estates, Personal Injury Claims, Drafting and reviewing Contracts for Companies, etc;
· 1995: I attended School for Legal Practice at the then University of Natal in Durban. We focused mainly on Magistrates Court, High Court, Ethics and Administration of Estates and Corporate Law;
· 1997: Admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa. Since then I have been practicing as a sole proprietor under the name and style of John Majola, Nxasana & Partners. I have appeared in the High Court on several occasions;
· 2000: Acted as a Regional Court Magistrate in Durban;
· 2001: Appointed as the member of the Board of Control for the School for Legal Practice, Durban;
· 2003 – 2005: Appointed as the Deputy Chairperson of the Black Lawyers Association (BLA), Durban branch;
· 2003 – to date: member of the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society Council. I serve under many Committees e.g. Rules Committee, Complaints Committee, Environment Committee, Criminal Law Committee etc;
· 2003 – to date : Appointed as a member of the Grants to Universities Committee of the Attorneys Fidelity Fund;
· 2005: Appointed as the presiding officer at the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (SIRA);
· 2005: Appointed to be in the Foskor panel of attorneys. Foskor is a mining company which has divisions in Phalaborwa, Richards Bay and Midrand. We deala lot with service contracts, tender documents and tender specifications. I also gave written and verbal legal opinions to Foskor on Competition Commission issues ;
· 2006 to date: Appointed as the alternate Board member of the Legal Aid Board of South Africa;
· 2006 to date: Appointed as the alternate Board member of the Board of Control for the Attorneys Fidelity Fund;
· 2007: served as a member of the Focus Working Group that was responsible for the drafting of the Legal Services Charter;
· 2007: Appointed as a member of the Department of Health Tribunal, KwaZulu-Natal. My duty was to investigate the circumstances that led to the strike by nurses and to make recommendations to the Minister;
· 2008: Appointed by the Minister of Finance as a member of the Tax Board panel for hearing of Income Tax appeals; and
· 2009 - 2011: Appointed as the Vice President for the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society
· 2011 - 2012: Appointed as the President for the KwaZulu–Natal Law Society
· 2011 - 2012: Appointed as the member of the Board of Control for the Attorneys Fidelity Fund
· 2011 - 2012: Appointed an ex-officio member of Law Society of South Africa Association (LSSA)
· 2012: Appointed as the Chairperson of the School Governing Body of Pinetown Boy’s High School
· 2012: Appointed as the Chairperson of the Black Lawyers Association Durban branch.
Main duties and objectives
To provide guidance to all my clients on all legal matters as well as to attend to all legal proceedings.
Tasks
· Set up and maintain legal register and ensure safety of all cases in favour of and against my clients;
· Set up and maintain register and ensure safety of all contracts entered into by my clients (companies and individuals);
· Keep record of cases set down for trial;
· Follow up with briefed Advocates for updates to my clients
· Respond to summons issued in Magistrates/ High Court and served on my clients.
· Draft and Review Commercial Contracts
· To ensure that client’s contracts are in line with the current laws of the Country, developments and trends.
· Present draft contracts to relevant Executives for discussion and approval;
· Where discrepancies are noted, effect the appropriate clauses;
· Ensure that all contracts adhere to Legal requirements and that such contracts do not jeopardize my clients;
· Provide advice and guidance on all legal matters;
· Proactively advise my clients on the latest developments/ cases covering all areas of specialization within their environment;
· Evaluate evidence pertaining to cases before court proceedings – provide legal opinion and expertise, where necessary; and
· Where appropriate, prepare briefs to Advocates to represent my clients in some cases.
Enquiries:
Mac Maharaj
Cell: 079 879 3203
E-mail: macmaharaj@icloud.com
