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Onah Attorneys Inc • Johannesburg
Criminal Defence Attorneys – Your Rights, Aggressively Defended
A criminal charge threatens your freedom, your career and your name. Our criminal defence attorneys defend clients in the Magistrates’ and High Courts of Gauteng on charges from assault and theft to fraud, drug offences and violent crime. We test every element of the State’s case — the arrest, the evidence chain, the witnesses — and we defend as fiercely at the police station as we do at trial.
Call 011 042 8039Free Case AssessmentWhen you need criminal defence attorneys
Arrested or called in for a warning statement
Assault, including assault GBH charges
Theft, shoplifting and possession of stolen property
Fraud, forgery and white-collar charges
Drug possession and dealing charges
Drunk driving (DUI) and reckless driving prosecutions
Firearm offences and firearm licence disputes
Private prosecution defence and nolle prosequi certificates
How we handle your matter
Police-station protection
Say nothing until we arrive. We attend interviews, protect you from self-incrimination and manage the warning statement.
Case analysis
We obtain the docket contents you are entitled to, dissect the charge sheet and identify every defence and procedural defect.
Representations
Where the case is weak we make written representations to the prosecutor or DPP to withdraw or decline to prosecute — ending cases before trial.
Plea strategy
Where appropriate we negotiate a Section 105A plea agreement or diversion that avoids a criminal record, and we never plead you out of a winnable case.
Trial & appeal
At trial we cross-examine, challenge admissibility, and argue for acquittal. After conviction we handle sentencing mitigation, appeals and reviews.
Fees — transparent, agreed upfront
Criminal defence is billed per stage with a written fee agreement — first appearance, regional court trial day, High Court matters each quoted clearly. You will never be surprised by an invoice mid-trial.
Key legislation:
- Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977
- Constitution, Section 35
- Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I am arrested?
Remain calm, do not resist, and say only that you want your attorney. Do not explain, do not sign admissions, do not consent to searches you can refuse. Call us — we attend day or night.
Do I have to give a statement to the police?
No. You have a constitutional right to silence. A warning statement should only ever be made on legal advice — most convictions start with something the accused said early.
Can charges be dropped before trial?
Yes. Written representations to the senior prosecutor or DPP regularly result in charges being withdrawn or declined where the evidence is weak or procedure was violated.
What is a plea bargain in South Africa?
A Section 105A agreement where the accused pleads guilty on agreed facts for an agreed sentence — certainty in exchange for the plea. It requires careful negotiation and is not right for every case.
Will I get a criminal record for a first offence?
Not necessarily. Diversion, cautions, or Section 297 suspended sentences can avoid a record; for minor offences an existing record can later be expunged after 10 years.
How long does a criminal trial take?
District court matters may finish in months; regional and High Court trials commonly run a year or more with postponements. We push for trial-readiness and oppose lazy postponements by the State.
Speak to an Attorney Today
Get straight answers about criminal defence attorneys from a firm that fights to win. First consultation — no obligation, full confidentiality.
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