05 Jul 2016

Fourty-five foreign nationals have resident and work permits to practice law in the country. 

The Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu said of the total, 20 were practicing as private attorneys, one at the Attorney General’s Chambers, three at the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), seven magistrates and 14 academics. 

Mr Batshu noted that there had been significant progress in the localisation of non-citizen held positions in the legal profession, adding that some of the categories no longer required the services of foreigners because locals were available.

He however said lawyers with specialised skills and experience in fields such as complex commercial law, intellectual property, constitutional law, labour law, international law and cybercrime, among others, were still not readily available in the labour market. 

“This is why we continue to receive requests for the employment of foreigners with suitable skills, which are considered and permits issued on their own merit in terms of the Immigration Act No. 3 of 2011,” said Mr Batshu. 

Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked the minister to state the number of foreign nationals with resident and work permits practicing law in the country as private attorneys, state counsel, judges, magistrates and academics. ENDS