What an amaBhungane report calls an ‘extraordinary’ complaint has been lodged with the KZN Society of Advocates against Nalini Govender, a member of the Durban Bar who has also served as a magistrate in the province. A local bond originator, Suchu Pillay, alleges that Govender disclosed to him in mid-2015 that she had received more than R500 000 from ‘Mpisane’, which he understood to refer to the husband-and-wife team of Sbu and Shauwn Mpisane.

The allegations are untested and have been denied. In 2013, Govender, acting as a magistrate, presided over a case involving fraud and corruption charges brought against Shauwn Mpisane in the Durban Commercial Crime Court. The charges – relating to allegations that Mpisane had fraudulently obtained Construction Industry Development Board certificates – were provisionally withdrawn in January 2014 after Govender refused the prosecutor’s request for a postponement.

Mpisane denied any wrongdoing and was defending the case before it was withdrawn. Sbu Mpisane reportedly told amaBhungane: ‘We would like to state that Advocate Govender was never part of my legal team and any allegation that I paid her any monies is not true, which I take very seriously.’ Govender declined to answer detailed questions, citing the society’s complaint process and her own pending legal action against Pillay.

Full AmaBhungane report