Land reform beneficiaries in Limpopo are accusing their lawyer of hijacking their multimillion-rand farming project, notes a City Press report. The beneficiaries of the R61.4m Zebediela Citrus Estate in Limpopo allege prominent lawyer Tumi Mokwena got a stake in their business through the back door. Mokwena, who represented EFF leader Julius Malema in his tax trial, came to Zebediela Citrus as a lawyer last year to represent the 1 500 beneficiaries when they were fighting the removal of a strategic partner, Henley Property Management.

The Bjatladi Communal Property Association (CPA) members have since discovered Mokwena has become MD of Zebediela Citrus without their knowledge. ‘We don’t know how he became a director of the company,’ said Ike Kekana, who is fighting the battle on behalf of his 92-year-old mother, a CPA member. ‘(Mokwena) represented the CPA and now he is calling himself the MD and lives in one of the mansions on the farm. They pay R385 000 a month to a security company and money from the sales of the oranges goes into Mokwena’s trust account,’ Kekana complained.

City Press says it has seen records from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission confirming that Mokwena became a director of Zebediela Citrus on 4 May. Kekana has reported Mokwena to the Law Society of the Northern Provinces, urging the body to investigate him for unethical behaviour. Mokwena reportedly referred questions to CPA chairperson Mike Masetloa. ‘For anyone to be appointed a director of a company, he must be appointed by shareholders. I think shareholders should be asked that question (about my appointment).'

Full City Press report