Solidarity files a complaint against the Legal Practice Council

28 August 2024

The Solidarity Law Network has filed a complaint with the Information Regulator (IR) against the Legal Practice Council (LPC) for failing to comply with its request brought in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).

The information requested deals with the LPC’s decision to do away with Afrikaans as language for writing exams.

During this year the Solidarity Law Network addressed several letters on this matter to the LPC. Apart from numerous attempts to have discussions with the LPC about its decision Solidarity was misled as the LPC’s willingness to participate in discussions was apparently simply to protract processes, according to Riaan Visser, head of the Law Network.

This request that was directed at the LPC earlier this year, focuses on aspects of the LPC’s decision-making process to do away with Afrikaans as language for exams. In its previous correspondence Solidarity’s Law Network also emphasised the urgency of the request, insisting that the LPC meets with the Solidarity Law Network as a matter of urgency to discuss the issue further. 

The Law Network is disappointed in the LPC as the requests and numerous discussions have merely fallen on deaf ears.  

By filing the complaint with the IR, the Solidarity Law Network requests that the LPC comply with the PAIA request which includes a request for all documentation related to the matter, including records, minutes and agendas of meetings, as well as a comprehensive list of stakeholders consulted during the process to phase Afrikaans out.

“The Solidarity Law Network still wants to determine on what grounds the LPC has based its decision-making. At this stage, the LPC is still withholding information even after the PAIA request,” Visser said.
Solidarity strives to protect and maintain the rights and interests of multilingualism and to promote it, as well as to preserve respect for the legal profession.

“The ultimate aim of this complaint is to ensure respect for the interests of all parties involved, while promoting the constitutional principles of language diversity and access to rights” Visser concluded.

Issued by Riaan Visser, Head Solidarity Law Network, 28 August 2024