The Legal Practice Council (LPC) has moved to take control of the trust accounts of Charlotte Tibana Attorneys after the High Court in Polokwane suspended the firm’s sole director, attorney Charlotte Tibana, pending disciplinary proceedings.
The intervention places Tibana’s legal practice under scrutiny on two fronts: a professional disciplinary process by the LPC and a criminal prosecution in which she and her husband, Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) officer Peter “Greater Gagash” Nonyane, face 43 charges linked to the alleged theft and laundering of almost R6-million from deceased estates.
The High Court order granted this week allows the LPC to intervene in the affairs of the practice following Tibana’s arrest last month.
The LPC’s Limpopo Provincial Director, Khomotso Matsaung, confirmed that Tibana is no longer permitted to practise while the disciplinary process is under way.
“Tibana is indeed suspended pending disciplinary proceedings by the Legal Practice Council. What this means is that LPC will consider all the complaints. Currently, we had considered only one complaint which warranted the urgent suspension against her,” Matsaung said.
“She’s been charged for contravention of various provisions of the Code of Conduct, the Rules and the Legal Practice Act.
“A suspended practitioner cannot take instructions from clients. Suspended practitioner cannot transact on the trust account. Suspended practitioner cannot act as an executor, cannot act as a curator, cannot act as a legal representative for anyone.”
Matsaung said the council had also approached financial institutions to prevent transactions from being conducted through accounts over which Tibana had authority.
“We have contacted the banks to ensure that a hold is put on all the accounts that she had the authority to transact on. We are still engaging other banks to check whether she had any accounts with them.
“Currently, we only have information regarding the banks that we have contacted so far. So, we are still engaging other banks to check whether she had opened any accounts with them on behalf of Headlines (clients). So, we are still engaging the banks regarding that,” she added.
According to Matsaung, Absa and First National Bank are among the institutions where accounts linked to Tibana have been frozen.
She said the LPC had also placed a hold on the firm’s trust account.
“Her trust account, we have put a hold. We are waiting for the bank to confirm the status of the trust account, but they have confirmed that they have put a hold. The claimants must follow the Section 55 provision in the Legal Practice Act, which makes a provision that they can claim against the Legal Practitioners’ Fidelity Fund.
The criminal case
The professional action comes as Tibana and Nonyane remain in custody following their arrests in August.
As African Times previously reported, Nonyane was arrested in Pretoria on 14 August, while Tibana handed herself over to police in Polokwane on 17 August.
The National Prosecuting Authority says the charges arise from allegations concerning deceased estates for which Tibana had been appointed executor. The State alleges that approximately R6-million was unlawfully withdrawn from accounts belonging to different estates and that the money was subsequently concealed, moved between accounts or used for personal purposes.
The couple now face 43 charges, including fraud, theft and money laundering.
The allegations concern several estates. Among the amounts placed before court are approximately R650,000 linked to the Masha estate, R1.1-million involving the Mathabatha estate, R4.25-million relating to the Maswanganyi estate, R1.3-million in the Moetjie estate, R800,000 in the Kobe estate and R110,000 in the Tlabile estate.
The State alleges that some of the money was channelled through different accounts and used for personal transactions and assets.
One of the allegations concerns an attempted purchase of a second-hand Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 worth about R1.65-million from a dealership in Pretoria. The NPA has also alleged that Nonyane used some of the proceeds for stokvel contributions and the construction of a residential property.
In another estate valued at more than R4.2-million, prosecutors allege that only R1.47-million was paid to the deceased’s children, with the remainder allegedly misappropriated.
What the LPC suspension means for clients
For Tibana’s former clients, particularly beneficiaries of estates she administered, the LPC intervention could have significant consequences.
Matsaung said a suspended practitioner cannot operate trust accounts or continue performing functions that require them to act as legal practitioners.
The council’s intervention also means that people who believe they suffered financial losses have avenues through which they may seek recourse, subject to the relevant requirements.
“There are the processes that one must follow in order to claim against the Legal Practitioners’ Fidelity Fund. So, they must follow that process. But we can confirm that Ms. Tibana had a Fidelity Fund certificate at the time of contraventions in all those claims or all those complaints.
“So, claimants do have a right of recourse either to claim against Ms. Tibana n a civil claim or against the LPFF. But that process is regulated by the Legal Practitioners’ Fidelity Fund. So, we will direct them to lodge their claims there, but they have their own process,” Matsaung concluded.
The LPC has on Tuesday listed Tibana among legal practitioners facing disciplinary action. The council’s list includes practitioners who have been struck from the roll as well as those who have been suspended.
Tibana and struck-off attorney Johann Van Den Berg were listed as the two Limpopo practitioners among those subjected to disciplinary sanctions by the LPC in 2026.
Nonyane’s business interests
The criminal case has also put the spotlight on Nonyane’s business interests.
Nonyane, who is known by the nicknames “Lamasweet” and “Greater Gagash”, has boasted as a businessman and small-scale farmer, including speaking about livestock such as 22 goats, 13 sheep and six cattle.
His arrest has also affected his involvement in Seventeen Lifestyle Coyotes, a Sunnyside-based establishment in Tshwane.
While Nonyane remains in custody, Amukelani Chavalala, a socialite known as “Chavi CMC”, has confirmed that he has taken over the running of the venue.
“New clothes. New responsibilities. Same focus,” Chavalala posted on Facebook alongside a photograph of himself outside the establishment.
Chavalala has since promoted a weekend entertainment programme at the venue featuring Xitsonga performers including Xamaccombo, Xongi, Rhuza De Pro and Simefree.
The criminal matter returns to the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court on 6 November 2026 for further investigations.
