Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a panel of three qualified and experienced legal service providers to deliver high-quality legal services to Eastern Cape CET College over a period of 36 months (3 years). The appointed providers will support the College by offering legal advice, representation, and related services that promote sound governance, compliance with legislation, and effective legal support across various matters.

Scope

The scope of work includes providing comprehensive legal services such as:

• Providing clear, written legal opinions on law, governance, and administration matters.
• Offering advice on compliance with national legislation and constitutional obligations.
• Interpreting laws and regulations affecting College functions.
• Reviewing policies, by-laws, and internal procedures for legal compliance.
• Providing legal opinions related to the Higher Education and Training Sector legislation.
• Litigation support and representing the College in various legal cases.
• Handling labour-related matters, including representation at Bargaining Councils, CCMA, Labour Court, and other courts.
• Assisting with contract interpretation, risk identification, and representation in contract-related cases.
• Advising on procurement, good governance practices, and public law standards.
• Monitoring and reporting on legal matters, including court filings and case progress.

The legal services will be called upon as needed, and providers must deliver services professionally and timeously, ensuring legal compliance and supporting the College’s governance and operational needs.

Technical Requirements

The successful legal service providers must:

• Be duly registered and accredited legal practitioners with access to relevant legal research databases.
• Provide legal opinions, advice, and representation across a broad range of legal areas including litigation, labour law, contracts, governance, and compliance.
• Support the College with monitoring, reporting, and documentation of legal activities.
• Attend court, arbitration, mediation, or tribunal hearings as necessary.
• Assist with interpretation of contracts, risk assessment, and legal compliance.
• Provide legal support on employment matters, procurement, and governance practices.
• Produce deliverables such as legal opinions, reports, court filings, and proof of submissions.
• Operate within the scope of the applicable legal standards and public law in South Africa.

Skills Requirements

The bidders must demonstrate the following skills and qualifications:

• LLB Degree or B.Proc qualification (minimum qualification requirement).
• At least 6 years of post-admission experience as an attorney (more than 10 years preferred).
• Proven experience in providing legal services to similar institutions or in similar projects, with at least 2 reference letters for recent projects.
• Experience in litigation, including representation in courts such as Labour Court, High Court, and Constitutional Court.
• Knowledge of public sector legal frameworks, governance, and compliance standards.
• Ability to interpret laws, review policies, and provide strategic legal advice.
• Strong report writing, communication, and court advocacy skills.
• Capacity to deliver legal opinions and reports within tight deadlines and in a professional manner.