Summary:
In a landmark case, the Law Society of the Northern Provinces questioned whether Peet Viljoen was fit and proper to practice law. The matter escalated to the Supreme Court in Bloemfontein, where a full bench of five judges ruled unanimously in Viljoen’s favor.
Case Details:
• Established that only the Supreme Court — not the Law Society — has the power to decide fitness to practice.
• Exposed the overreach and bias of a regulatory body entrenched for decades, operating like a “broederbond.”
• Despite spending nearly $200,000 of his own funds, Viljoen persevered through ridicule in the press, facing the inequality of arms where the Law Society used institutional budgets while he fought personally.
Outcome:
• The Court issued a rare and extraordinary costs order against the Law Society, punishing them for their overreach.
• The ruling was absolute, unanimous, and final.
Personal Reflection:
Viljoen remarked: “The truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it. Just set it free.”
Significance:
This case remains a magnificent rarity in South African legal history, cementing Peet Viljoen’s reputation as a lawyer who not only fights for clients but has also defended himself successfully at the highest level.
