Fake lawyer who pops up as legal 'tax consultant' referred to director of public prosecutions

• Published date: 23 October 2023
• Author: TANIA BROUGHTON
• Publication title: TimesLIVE (Johannesburg, South Africa)

Pauline Erasmus, also known as Pauline Pretorius, was unmasked in 2020 when it was discovered by investigative journalists that she was masquerading as Adv Johanna Petronella Jansen van Vuuren

She had done this by manipulating official documents.

The Legal Practice Council (LPC) secured an interdict against her in September 2021, barring her from posing as a legal practitioner. The court directed that its order be circulated to all registrars and taxing masters in South Africa.

But it has now emerged that Erasmus, while not claiming to be a lawyer, has been acting on behalf of clients in matters which are referred to taxing masters for adjudication of cost orders.

This is done at the end of the litigation process.

When she was turned away from the Cape Town master's office, her client, on her behalf, launched high court proceedings challenging this.

And the LPC jumped into the litigation as an amicus curiae, exposing her past.

Erasmus's client cannot be identified because he was involved in a divorce. He was opposing the bill of costs drawn up by his estranged wife's lawyers.

His lawyers hired Erasmus, who described herself as a "consultant" to attend the taxation meetings.

Erasmus said in her understanding, she was entitled to do this, as long as she was accompanied by a lawyer. A junior advocate had been present with her as a "watching brief".

But at one stage in the process, the attending taxing master had informed Erasmus that she would not allow her to address her on any of the issues, and would only permit the advocate to do so.

The advocate was unable to assist and the taxation was postponed. Erasmus then wrote to the taxing master asking for reasons for the decision. The reply was that it had always been the position that only a legal practitioner with the right of appearance can present matters for taxation, and that management was enforcing this.

Aggrieved, Erasmus's client then launched the application to review this decision, which came before Western Cape high court judges Patrick Gamble, Daniel Thulare and Raadiyah WathenFalken.

Erasmus, and not her client, deposed the founding affidavit and the LPC was permitted to join the proceedings in spite of opposition from Erasmus.

Two witnesses, an advocate and an attorney, said Erasmus's client was a "stalking horse" for her.

They told of her "dubious past" — allegations of dishonesty, deception and fraud which were not denied by Erasmus.

This included doing taxation matters when she was an...