The Pretoria High Court’s gallery was left gobsmacked when Malesela Teffo turned up to the Senzo Meyiwa trial dressed in his robe and was supposedly there to represent the interests of Sifiso Meyiwa, on Wednesday.
Watch: Malesela Teffo disrupts Senzo Meyiwa trial
The disgraced ex-advocate held the court captive with a demand to be placed on record as a legal representative of the former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper’s brother.
Teffo, dressed in his black barrister gown, challenged Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela, who was visibly infuriated, to accept that he was not at Wednesday’s proceedings “to sit and watch.”
“I’ve been given instructions by Sifiso Meyiwa, the brother of the deceased. I have been given instructions by Orlando Pirates management,” he exclaimed,
Completely ignoring Judge Maumela’s repeated warnings, Teffo accused the court of “depriving the right people who are affected by this.”
The disbarred advocate was, more than an hour into a delayed start, contained and Judge Maumela proceeded with the day’s agenda, which, for the defence, was forcing the anonymous ‘celebrity witness to take the stand.
Watch the chilling encounter between Teffo and Judge Maumela below:
Is Teffo still an advocate?
Malesela Teffo, who previously represented three of the accused, faced a major setback in his legal career when, on September 2022, he was struck off the Roll of Legal Practitioners.
The Legal Practice Council (LPC) successfully applied for Teffo’s disbarment, citing numerous complaints against him dating back to 2015. The allegations included assault and harassment of police officers, using offensive language, threatening clients, violating a court interdict, and mishandling client funds.
Despite being removed as an advocate, Teffo continued practising law.
The Pretoria High Court ruling not only disbarred Teffo but also ordered him to surrender his practising certificate and prohibited him from accessing the banking accounts he used for client payments.
The LPC emphasised that Teffo’s removal from the roll was not overturned and that he should not present himself as an advocate. Legal expert advocate Francois Botes SC described Teffo’s conduct as irrational and criminal, urging the LPC to seek an interdict to prevent him from falsely projecting himself as an advocate.
Prior to his disbarment, Teffo approached the Meyiwa family, offering them R50 000 in cash from a mysterious donor. Suspecting something amiss, the family alerted AfriForum, which represents them in the trial. In a letter, AfriForum’s advocate Gerrie Nel expressed concerns about Teffo’s planned visit, stating that the family would not meet him or accept any money.
The letter also called for an explanation of the context of his intended engagement, as Teffo had misleadingly conveyed expectations of a prosecutor visiting the family.
However, his disbarment remains in effect, reinforcing the LPC’s assertion that there is no court action suspending the enforcement of the striking-off order. Despite the confusion caused by Teffo’s actions, it is clear that he is no longer recognised as a legal practitioner.