Lawyer charged over Madiba 'vegetative state' remark
The Eastern Cape Bar Council has charged Advocate David Smith for allegedly lying to the Eastern Cape High Court (Mthatha) that former President Nelson Mandela was in a 'permanent vegetative state', says a Daily Dispatch report.
Eastern Cape Society of Advocates (ECSA) chair Advocate Marius Swanepoel confirmed Smith was the subject of a disciplinary process which was currently under way. In a letter to the former President's grandson, Mandla Mandela, in October, the ECSA's Advocate Charl van Rooyen said a decision to send Smith to a hearing had been taken. Although Smith is Port Elizabeth-based, the disciplinary process was being done in Grahamstown. Van Rooyen said this was in the interests of fairness and transparency. He said the outcomes of the hearing involving Smith would be referred to an independent disciplinary committee which would make a final decision. Full Daily Dispatch report (subscription needed)