The firm of prominent Polokwane lawyer Tumi Mokwena, who has represented EFF leader Julius Malema in the past, has been placed under liquidation following a Limpopo High Court order yesterday, notes News24.

This comes after Judge Frans Kgomo rejected Mokwena's application for the condonation of the late filing of court papers in the matter.

Neither Mokwena, nor his attorney, Floyd Legodi, were in court.

Legodi filed a notice of withdrawal earlier yesterday.

Issuing the order, Kgomo said the applicant made out a prima facie case: ‘This is a long-standing matter spanning seven years. I've read the papers of the applicants and their advanced reasons. The respondent is aware of this date and the notice of withdrawal as attorney of record was filed this morning. I'm convinced and satisfied that the applicant has made a case for liquidation,’ Kgomo said.

Mokwena has been embroiled in a lengthy legal battle with local businessman Sthembiso Bethuel Bosch, also known as ‘Steve Bosch’.

In court papers, Bosch said he deposited R1.5m on behalf of the Majola Trust, of which he is a trustee, into Mokwena's law firm's trust account in 2014 for a property transaction which did not materialise.

‘When called upon to pay back the monies, first respondent, represented by Mokwena, did not or could not do so.'

The High Court recently ordered Mokwena to subject all his law firm's accounting books to the Law Society of the Northern Provinces for inspection. His attempt to appeal the decision in the SCA in Bloemfontein failed.

Full News24 report