RUSTENBURG, South Africa – Johannes Tebogo Motse, 43, has been sentenced to six years’ direct imprisonment by the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Rustenburg after being found guilty of fraud, theft, forgery, and uttering.
Motse impersonated a legal practitioner, representing clients unlawfully in various courts between February and November 2022. He forged key legal documents, including a right of appearance certificate, fidelity fund certificate, and admission certificate, to mislead his victims.
One victim paid Motse R15,000 to handle an appeal but never received any legal services, which led to a police investigation revealing that Motse was not registered with the Legal Practice Council of South Africa.
Motse pleaded guilty to all charges. State Advocate Matshidiso Ramakgaphola described the offences as planned and methodical, noting that such crimes are a growing concern in the Rustenburg area.
The court handed down a six-year prison term combining the fraud, forgery, and uttering charges. Motse received a two-year sentence for theft, suspended for five years on condition that he reimburses the complainant by 31 August 2025. He was also declared unfit to own firearms under South Africa’s Firearms Control Act.
Dr Rachel Makhari, Director of Public Prosecutions in North West province, praised the prosecution’s work, saying the verdict shows the National Prosecuting Authority’s resolve to protect the public from fake lawyers and uphold legal integrity.
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