Commercial law attorneys anti-black - advocate

According to a Beeld report, quoting from an article in the latest edition of Advocate, the former acting judge in the High Court and Labour Court urged advocates not to bluff themselves that they are not 'a racist and sexist bunch'. Despite Ngalwana's extensive experience in commercial matters - he is also well-known for his work as the Pension Fund Adjudicator - he has received only one brief from an attorney in a commercial law matter. 'The reason for that is that instructing attorneys - mainly white men - believe black and female advocates cannot do the work.' The report adds that Ngalwana says out loud what some only dare to whisper: that lawyers in commercial matters sometime wait to see which judge is assigned to a case before deciding whether to opt for arbitration instead. 'White attorneys and their white advocates take matters on arbitration to prevent having to appear before a black judge or a female judge,' he claims. He argues that this branch of the law will not develop if lawyers keep diverting matters from the court for personal reasons. Full Beeld report