Wesley was born in Rustenburg, however he did his schooling at Pretoria Boys High and thereafter attended the University of Pretoria where he obtained his LLB. Wesley joined van Velden-Duffey Inc. as a candidate attorney in 2009 and was admitted as an attorney on 4 October 2010. From early on Wesley evidenced a knack and passion for litigation and he was made a director in 2014.
Wesley specialises in commercial, corporate and general litigation and he has a right of appearance in the High Court and regularly appears in the Pretoria, Johannesburg and Mahikeng High Courts. Having the only two mutual associations in the country as his clients, Wesley also has enormous experience in the specialised field of Workman’s Compensation matters, where he has been involved in constitutional challenges to the provisions of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act.
Over the years Wesley has represented some of the biggest mining houses in mining disputes and arbitrations. As such he is regarded as one of the prominent litigators in the North West Province, having evidenced creativity and diligence in approaching complex legal principles and disputes. Wesley has spent much time in the Land Claims Court and he is therefore our specialist in restitution of land rights claims and farm evictions.
Being involved in corporate and commercial disputes has also helped Wesley gain an intimate understanding of business operations and potential areas of conflict. This places him in a unique position, where he can draw from a wide base of historic disputes, in compiling commercial agreements and documents. Having a desire to expand his knowledge base, Wesley has also passed his notary exam and has met the criteria to be admitted as a Notary Public.
Wesley also serves on the litigation committee of the Rustenburg Attorneys Association. In his down time Wesley, like most red-blooded South Africans, is an avid sportsman. He still plays touch rugby and social cricket and enjoys a round of golf. Wesley is also a prolific reader citing David Eddings, Michael Crichton and Stephen King as his favourite fiction authors, whilst he cites Yuval Noah Harari as being his favourite non-fiction writer.
In legal circles Wesley most admires, who many believe to be South Africa’s greatest ever judge, Chief Justice James Rose Innes. It is Wesley’s greatest desire to emulate the same integrity, scruples, fairness and legal nous as his idol.