MZUYANDA VUYOLWETHU CUMA MNYAKA
Pretoria
Summary
Experienced legal professional specialising in civil litigation, commercial law, and alternative dispute resolution. Skilled in drafting legal documents, negotiating contracts, and conducting comprehensive legal research. Handles complex cases in labour and insurance law, while providing strategic governance advice in constitutional and administrative law. Focused on delivering effective legal solutions in property law and personal injury litigation.
Overview
4
4
Languages
19
19
years of professional experience
Work history
Director
Mnyaka Attorneys
2023.12 - Current
- Provided strategic legal opinions and advice, enhancing client decision-making on complex matters
- Participated in Pre-trial Conferences and Settlement Negotiations, facilitating resolutions that aligned with client interests.
- Managed office operations and supervised staff, ensuring efficient workflow and compliance with legal standards.
- Collaborated with Counsel to strategise legal approaches on various cases. and worked with different Counsels on a variety of matters.
- Engaged experts for trial preparation and analysis of complex reports. and analysing experts’ reports for the purposes of trial or settlement.
- Dealing with the Motion Court (Applications) in particular drafting Founding affidavits, Answering affidavits and Replying affidavits.
- Appearing at various magistrates’ Courts both Trial and Motion.
- Drafting settlement agreements.
- Drafting other pleadings including pleas, counter-claims and exceptions;
- Drafting various types of summons from Ordinary Summons to Rent Interdict summons.
- Consulting with clients and taking instructions on a variety of legal matters.
Litigation Officer
The Road Accident Fund
2018.02 - 2023.11
- Assessed merits and quantum of Third Party claims lodged against the Fund, ensuring compliance and informed decision-making.
- Establishing whether claims comply with the relevant legislation, including but not limited to the Road Accident Fund Act.
- Drafting pleadings and attending Court.
- Giving instructions to panel Attorneys on how to deal with matters, including which experts to appoint and how to settle matters.
- Reviewed Executive Summaries (opinions) from panel attorneys to support strategic case management.
- Compiled comprehensive reports for Management on all allocated matters, facilitating oversight and strategic planning.
- Ensuring that targets are met as set out by Management as set out by Management.
Professional Assistant
Mojela Hlazo Practice
2015.09 - 2017.12
- Presented cases in court to advocate for clients' interests.;
- Defending/opposing Legal proceedings on behalf of the Government Employees Pension Fund;
- Receiving instructions from the Metropolitans and drafting letters of demand for compliance with Town Planning Schemes/By-Laws;
- Drafting Founding Affidavits in support of Interdicts to be issued at the High Court against contravention of the Scheme/s or By- Law/s;
- Perusing Answering Affidavits and Drafting Replying Affidavits;
- Ensuring that the matters are properly enrolled on the Opposed Court Roll or the Unopposed Court roll;
- Preparing briefs to Counsel;
- Enforcing Court Orders with the assistance from the Sheriff;
- Attending debatement of various accounts in dispute;
- Preparing invoices to clients on work done;
- Compiled comprehensive monthly reports for clients including City of Johannesburg, City of Ekurhuleni and Government Employees Pension Fund, highlighting key developments and compliance issues;
- Created detailed monthly reports for clients and directors, outlining case progress and strategic recommendations;
- Supervising support staff and ensuring that Firms policies are not breached;
- Achieved monthly targets set by management through effective prioritisation and task management.
Professional Assistant
Dudula Incorporated Attorneys
2008.02 - 2015.08
- Furnished legal opinions and advice on various matters, facilitating informed decision-making for clients.
- Managed legal eviction processes, ensuring compliance with housing regulations and minimising legal risks.
- Family law on particular Divorce matters, Maintenance and matters relating to access, guardianship, primary residence of minor children;
- Claims against the State, including but not limited to Medical Negligence and Unlawful arrest and detention.
- Third Party Claims against the Road Accident Fund; and
- Attending Pre-trial Conferences and Settlement Negotiations;
- Dealing with the Motion Court (Applications) in particular drafting Founding affidavits, answering affidavits and Replying affidavits;
- Appearing at various Magistrate’s Courts both Trial and Motion;
- Drafting pleadings including pleas, counter-claims and exceptions;
- Drafting settlement agreements;
- Instructing Counsel and working with different Counsels on a variety of matters; and
- Appointing experts and analyzing expert’s reports for the purposes of trial or settlement.
- Executed various commercial legal tasks to support business operations.
- Drafted lease agreements, ensuring adherence to legal standards and protecting client interests.
- Employment contact agreements and vetting of the agreements ensuring compliance to relevant legislation.
- Sale agreements;
- Joint venture agreements;
- Shareholder’s agreements;
- Sale of shares agreements;
Education
Bachelor of Laws -
Walter Sisulu University of Science and Technology
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Pretoria School for Legal Practice
Skills
- Civil Litigation (both Motion and Action proceedings)
- Legal drafting
- Contract drafting
- Commercial law
- Employment litigation
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Third party claims
- Personal injury
- Risk management
- Regulatory compliance
- Negotiating settlements
- Legal research
- Merits investigation
- Governance
- Public law
- Real estate transactions
LANGUAGES
English
IsiXhosa
IsiZulu
Setswana
REFERENCES
- Veni, Chetty, Team Leader, 012 429 5131, 083 212 4323, Road Accident Fund, Litigation Department
- Itumeleng, Sekgota, Senior Attorney, 011 331 1585, 071 872 7811, Dudula Incorporated
- Lerato, Mahoshi, Assistant Manager, 011 358 3239, 067 033 0625, Mojela Hlazo Practice
Timeline
Director
Mnyaka Attorneys
2023.12 - Current
Litigation Officer
The Road Accident Fund
2018.02 - 2023.11
Professional Assistant
Mojela Hlazo Practice
2015.09 - 2017.12
Professional Assistant
Dudula Incorporated Attorneys
2008.02 - 2015.08
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Pretoria School for Legal Practice
Bachelor of Laws -
Walter Sisulu University of Science and Technology