I am submitting this formal complaint against Mr. Simon van der Vyver of Meynhardt & Kie Attorneys in connection with his handling of a judgment debt matter under reference TD2470 TAH BELLVILLE / C SMITH (case #8926/24).
The basis of my complaint includes the following serious concerns:
Threatening retroactive charges for SMSs, WhatsApps, emails, and calls after I lawfully requested a statement of account;
Contacting my employer without my knowledge or consent in an attempt to confirm my employment and obtain personal details, in clear violation of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA);
Initiating summons and legal action immediately after I raised a dispute about unexplained charges, despite my demonstrated willingness to pay and having already made multiple good faith payments;
Using a tone and conduct in written communications that I believe to be intimidating, retaliatory, and unprofessional.
While I was actively engaging with Mr. van der Vyver through my personal Gmail account, he bypassed my instructions and proceeded to contact my employer. He spoke directly with our HR Generalist, Ms. Riz Barmania, attempting to obtain confirmation of my employment and my work email address. Despite her refusal and clear objection, he contacted her again in what appears to be an attempt to pressure her further.
Subsequently, Mr. van der Vyver began copying my work email in his communications — even though I had never given him consent to use that address and had repeatedly asked that all correspondence be directed to my personal email only. This not only violated my right to privacy but also exposed me to unnecessary embarrassment in my professional environment.
In my view, Mr. van der Vyver’s actions reflect a deliberate disregard for both POPIA and the ethical standards expected of a legal practitioner. His dismissive and confrontational responses show a failure to uphold his professional obligations and a troubling lack of respect for data privacy and fair process.
I have attached the completed complaint form and include, as Annexure A, a PDF record of the relevant email correspondence and supporting documentation to substantiate this complaint.
I respectfully request that the Legal Practice Council investigate this matter and take appropriate action where necessary.
Yours faithfully,
Candice Davids
ID: 8011270063083
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 072 462 7166
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