More than 90 mostly black-owned law firms and their clients across the country might be left in the lurch after the Road Accident Fund (RAF) demanded they hand back case files.

The Star reports that the RAF's acting chief executive Collins Letsoalo sent letters to law firms that assist the entity with court cases to hand over all unfinished cases from yesterday (Monday).

The letter stated that all original file documents should be handed over to the law firms nearest RAF office. The Star says the latest move of asking law firms to return files is seen as a cost-cutting measure that has the private legal fraternity worried about job security and further delays in court cases.

Mashudu Kutama, the president of the Black Lawyers Association, said while they were worried about their members, the recall of the files will have a dire effect on clients.

‘This will have catastrophic effects on members of the public who will end up not having attorneys. There will also be a huge delay in matters currently on the court roll. The RAF cannot haphazardly demand files because lawyers have a responsibility to clients and to the court. You cannot just abandon a matter. The problem is that the RAF wants to operate outside the law,’ Kutama said.

He said the association was unhappy that RAF advertised a tender over 18 months ago for law firms who want to work on their cases to apply and has to date still not appointed a new panel of attorneys.

The Star says it is believed by recalling the files, the RAF wants to use its internal staff of lawyers to deal with court cases.

Full report in The Star (subscription needed)