Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Commissioner of Juba County, Emmanuel Tete Ezbon, has called on the legal community to refrain from overcharging clients during property and vehicle sales, warning that inflated transaction costs are harming the national economy and complicating tax collection.
Speaking during the South Sudan Bar Association’s anniversary dinner in Juba on Friday, December 19, 2025, Commissioner Tete emphasized that property owners are already subject to government taxes and should not be burdened by excessive legal fees.
He noted that when lawyers set high prices for legal services or facilitate inflated sales figures, the resulting tax requirements—calculated as a percentage of the sale—become unsustainable for citizens.
“The problem we face regarding property sales and taxes is that the courts and registries take between 3%, 10%, or even 15%,” Tete stated. “When an individual buys a property or a car at an excessively high price, they are forced to pay higher taxes. This directly affects the country’s economy.”
Hon. Tete urged transparency in all legal transactions to ensure that property sellers can fulfil their tax obligations. He argued that honest pricing would lead to more consistent tax collection, enabling the government to provide better public services.
The Commissioner’s call for reform comes as the legal profession moves toward greater standardization. On December 18, 2025, just one day before the anniversary dinner, the South Sudan Bar Association convened its first General Assembly in Juba.
During the session, a proposed regulation aimed at unifying and regulating the fees charged by lawyers was tabled for discussion. The regulation is designed to provide a structured framework to govern and standardize the fees advocates charge their clients, addressing the very concerns raised by local authorities regarding inconsistent and high legal costs.
Advocate Arop Malueth Manon, President of the Bar Association, noted that the assembly also addressed broader rule-of-law issues. The anniversary event concluded with the presentation of “Justice Awards” to several pioneers for their roles in promoting judicial transparency.
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