Former Attorney Langelihle Dube Handed a Decade Behind Bars for Misappropriating R2.3 Million

In a verdict that reinforces the principle of trust within the legal profession, the Durban specialised commercial crimes court has imposed a 10-year prison sentence on former attorney Langelihle Dube for defrauding two of his clients of R2.3 million. The embezzled funds included R1.4 million earmarked for a young boy grievously injured in a traffic accident and R900,000 intended for beneficiaries of a deceased estate.

The case, led by National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Kara, reveals a gross betrayal of the fiduciary duty expected of legal practitioners. Between the years 2009 and 2011, Dube, then running his own law firm, intercepted these large sums, which had been deposited into his firm’s trust account—monies that he was expected to manage with the highest ethical standards and duly forward to his clients.

The first instance involved a payout from the Road Accident Fund (RAF), which was supposed to aid a young boy left with serious injuries following a motor vehicle incident. The second sum represented an insurance disbursement related to a deceased estate. However, neither of these significant amounts reached their rightful recipients as Dube chose to misappropriate the funds for his use.

The theft came to light following diligent investigations by the Attorneys Fidelity Fund, a statutory body ensuring accountability among legal practitioners, and the police. Upon his arrest, Dube faced the consequences of violating the sanctity of his profession.

During the sentencing phase, Senior State Advocate Wendy O’Brien emphasized the gravity of Dube’s actions, highlighting the erosion of public trust in the legal field as a direct result of such breaches. O’Brien’s remarks underscored the importance of integrity and responsibility that attorneys owe to their clients and the legal justice system as a whole.

While the prescriptive minimum sentence for each count of theft stood at 15 years' imprisonment, the court showed leniency towards Dube, citing his frail health. The former attorney received a 10-year sentence for the misappropriation of the R1.4m designated for the young accident victim and an eight-year term for the theft of R900,000 from the deceased estate. These sentences are to be served concurrently, offering some measure of closure to the clients who suffered financial and emotional distress due to Dube’s misconduct.

The sentencing of Langelihle Dube serves as a stern warning to legal practitioners and reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to upholding ethical standards within the profession.