Dear Minister Buti Manamela

I am a candidate attorney employed by the LPC and funded through SASSETA. The LPC is operating a project whereby it delegates future legal practitioners to various law firms across South Africa.

This project has since become a nightmare for fellow candidate attorneys across the country because the LPC has failed to meet its contractual obligations. This project has offered an opportunity that is none existent because in the last 10 months of serving articles of clerkship,the LPC and SASSETA have equally failed to compensate candidate attorneys timeously.

The contract is for 2 years and we have only received stipends twice this year. We have reached out to officials that can assist in this matter and was met with attitude and some days no responses to account for the missing funds. Please assist in launching an investigation into the reasons candidate attorneys are working and registered with the LPC but still have not received stipends which constitute unfair labour practices and a infringement of our Right to Dignity and Personal Liberty.

The hardship this has caused many of us is unbelievable however I hope this message reaches you because you are our last hope.

Candidate Attorneys