Attorney's banks to repay R13m

UMTATA -- Two local banks have been ordered by the Transkei High Court here to pay R13,5 million from an Umtata attorney's bank accounts to the registrar of the high court.

The order by Judge President Cecil Somyalo, with Mr Justice David van Zyl and Mr Justice Stefanus Visser concurring, followed claims that Mr Silulami Nontenja had received money in fees from the state attorney's office in Umtata in June and July this year.

The payments were allegedly made after an unidentified member of the state attorney's staff had authorised them.

The Bank of Transkei Limited and First National Bank were ordered to pay R13,5m to the registrar who will hand the money to the treasury section of the Department of Finance.

The judges said Mr Nontenja would be at liberty to submit redrawn bills of costs or statements of account with regard to all fees and disbursements due to him arising from instructions given to him by the state attorney in respect of matters he dealt with.

A further order was also made to the effect that the registrar of the high court be directed to submit all correspondence and documents filed in the matter to the Law Society in Cape Town, the attorney-general's office and the Department of Justice for them to take whatever action they might deem necessary.