Attorney found to be unlawfully practising law decade after being struck off

Dailydispatch · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · May 20, 2026 · 744 words · By Lulamile Feni

Criminal Misrepresentation Legal Malpractice Judicial Accountability

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Story audio is generated using AI The Mthatha High Court has barred a struck-off attorney from appearing in any South African court and referred him to the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority for investigation and possible prosecution.

Claims checked 13

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Right coverage

Left17%

Center83%

Right0%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

This after finding that he unlawfully continued practising law more than a decade after being removed from the roll.

Common ground

In a strongly worded order handed down on Friday, acting judge Mvuzo Notyesi ruled that Kenneth Phuthuma Ntila’s conduct was “irregular and unlawful” and declared the proceedings in which he appeared to be a nullity.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Criminal Misrepresentation story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The court further ordered Ntila to personally pay costs on an attorney-and-client scale, including counsel’s fees at Scale C?
How does this story connect Criminal Misrepresentation with Legal Malpractice over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/news/2026-05-20-attorney-found-to-be-unlawfully-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 8

schedule Pending 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

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Claim 1: “The court further ordered Ntila to personally pay costs on an attorney-and-client scale, including counsel’s fees at Scale C”

SINGLE SOURCE

One search result mentions a court case involving the children of 'Ntila', but it does not mention the Mthatha High Court ordering punitive legal costs (Scale C) against Kenneth Phuthuma Ntila.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In this case, the court found that the children are mostly adults and can fend for themselves and furthermore, that the ex-wife of Ntila is in a position to care for the minor children. Justice in our…
https://www.npa.gov.za/sites/default/files/media-releases/Fo…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Experience: KAY-PEE NTILA ATTORNEYS · Location: Johannesburg Metropolitan Area · 1 connection on LinkedIn. View KENNETH PHUTHUMA NTILA’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion memb…
https://za.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-phuthuma-ntila-47615519a

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web search NEUTRAL — One of the accused who turned state witness, Lwando Abi, will continue to be cross-examined by accused number two’s defence attorney when the trial resumes in the Mthatha High Court special sitting in…
https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/lusikisiki-mass-murder-tri…

schedule

Claim 2: “Luxolo Fodi Inc had been closed after Fodi’s appointment to the bench as a magistrate.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 3: “Ntila had acted for applicant Nomathamsanqa Tolbadi, who instituted legal proceedings against the department”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for this claim.

schedule

Claim 4: “Fodi confirmed that while he and Ntila had previously studied and worked together, the law firm belonged solely to him and had no connection to Ntila.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 5: “acting judge Mvuzo Notyesi ruled that Kenneth Phuthuma Ntila’s conduct was “irregular and unlawful” and declared the proceedings in which he appeared to be a nullity”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided consists of a general legal article on motions to dismiss, a piece on judicial appointments, and a LinkedIn profile. None mention Judge Mvuzo Notyesi or a ruling regarding Kenneth Phuthuma Ntila's conduct.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Explore the legal principles behind motion to dismiss due to immunity, including procedures, limitations, and key considerations in pre-trial litigation.
https://decreza.com/motion-to-dismiss-due-to-immunity/

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web search NEUTRAL — Advocate Alan Dodson, who is not a judge, was seen as an outsider. Judge Owen Rogers – a first-time candidate- was viewed as having his age count against him. He is 64. Unterhalter, a sitting Acting C…
https://layoftheland.online/2022/04/25/the-ongoing-trials-an…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — View KENNETH PHUTHUMA NTILA’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.Kay-pee ntila attorneys. View KENNETH PHUTHUMA’s full profile. See who you know in common. Get introduc…
https://za.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-phuthuma-ntila-47615519a

info

Claim 6: “Ntila is also a convicted fraudster, who was sentenced in 2017 to 15 years’ imprisonment for his role in a Johannesburg property hijacking syndicate”

SINGLE SOURCE

One search result mentions a 'kingpin' in a building hijacking syndicate serving a four-year sentence, but it does not name Kenneth Phuthuma Ntila. Another result discusses a Florida man. There is no evidence confirming Ntila's 15-year sentence in 2017.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — One of the kingpins in Johannesburg's building hijacking syndicate is serving a four-year sentence for fraud. This is what the magistrate's court heard, as S...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88I0Q-9RWo8

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — On June 15, 2023, a United States District Judge sentenced a Florida man to 15 years in prison for his role in an HIV prescription drug fraud scheme that amassed more than $230 million in two years.
https://www.thehealthlawfirm.com/florida-man-sentenced-to-15…

info

Claim 7: “The case centred on legal proceedings instituted against the Eastern Cape health department.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence mentions the Eastern Cape health department's medical negligence problems generally, but does not link Kenneth Phuthuma Ntila to a specific case against the department.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — info@health.gov.za. National Department of Health logo and South African Flag.Health Infrastructure and Facilities Management.
https://www.health.gov.za/

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web search NEUTRAL — Outstanding legal claims for medical negligence against Eastern Cape healthcare workers now total R37.67bn – more than double the value reported four years ago.
https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/eastern-cape-medical-negligen…

travel_explore

info

Claim 8: “Ntila appeared using the name of Komani-based law firm Luxolo Fodi Inc.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The search results for this claim are irrelevant, providing definitions of the name 'Kenneth' and information about a doctor, with no mention of Luxolo Fodi Inc.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kenneth is a given name of Gaelic origin. The name is an Anglicised form of two entirely different Gaelic personal names: Cainnech and Cináed. The modern Scottish Gaelic form of Cainnech is Coinneach;…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Apr 10, 2026 · Kenneth H. Akizuki, MD is an orthopedic surgeon who has been practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than twenty years. He is affiliated with multiple surgery centers and hosp…
https://www.goldenstateortho.com/doctor/kenneth-akizuki-md/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — May 13, 2026 · The name Kenneth is a boy's name meaning "born of fire, handsome". Kenneth may have lost much of its luster now, but Kenneth has had its moments of glory. The first king of Scotland was…
https://nameberry.com/b/boy-baby-name-kenneth

info

Claim 9: “The Mthatha High Court has barred a struck-off attorney from appearing in any South African court”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided web search results discuss general security issues at the Mthatha High Court and a LinkedIn profile for Kenneth Phuthuma Ntila, but none of the sources confirm that the court barred him from appearing in any South African court.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The issue of inadequate security at the Mthatha High Court is again in the spotlight, following a foiled escape by 13 awaiting trial prisoners this morning. ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU3uXkLqERg

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The court heard that Ndamase maintained a network of “soldiers” across the province, including in Lusikisiki, Port St Johns, Mthatha, Tsolo, Dutywa, Flagstaff and Butterworth. But he had grown concern…
https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/news/2025-09-02-kill-everyon…

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info

Claim 10: “referred him to the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority for investigation and possible prosecution”

SINGLE SOURCE

While there are search results mentioning corruption investigations at the Mthatha High Court and the Hawks/NPA acting in other matters, there is no evidence specifically linking a referral of Kenneth Phuthuma Ntila to these bodies.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A Southern Africa Accountability Journalism Project investigation has uncovered alleged corruption at the Mthatha High Court.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMu4k4tWCYc

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web search NEUTRAL — The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks, together with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), has secured a preservation order from the Mthatha High Cou…
https://iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2026-04-13-hawks-and…

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web search NEUTRAL — Mthatha, 15 May 2025 – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has initiated a high-level investigation into allegations of systemic corruption at the Mthatha.
https://centralnews.co.za/corruption-probe-launched-at-mthat…

schedule

Claim 11: “Legal Practice Council national spokesperson Kabelo Letebele confirmed Ntila was struck off in 2013 and had never been readmitted as an attorney or advocate.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 12: “Ntila was struck off the roll of attorneys by the North Gauteng High Court on December 5 2013”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided includes a gaming video, a LinkedIn profile, and a movie clip. None of these confirm that the North Gauteng High Court struck Ntila off the roll on December 5, 2013.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — This is the official Daigo vs Justin Parry Moment.Video has 100 million+ views on YouTube.evo.ggCopyright: Evolution E-Sports...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzS96auqau0

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web search NEUTRAL — Enjoy high-quality video without registration in the free video catalog ВКонтакте. Published on 30 December 2024.
https://vk.com/video-171834330_456240247

help

Claim 13: “Luxolo Fodi, now a magistrate in KuGompo City”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for this claim.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.