ADVOCATE MALESELA Teffo will have surrender and deliver his certificate of enrolment as a legal practitioner to the court’s registrar.
This follows damning allegations found against him by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, recently, following an application by the Legal Practice Council (LPC).
As a result he has been disbarred and struck from the roll of advocates, BUT can still represent people in labour-related cases before the CCMA, but not in the Labour Court.
Teffo rose to fame after becoming involved in the murder case of former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Meyiwa, who was shot and killed in 2014 in the Vosloorus home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo.
He initially held a watching brief for Meyiwa’s brother, Sifiso.
While holding a watching brief for Sifiso, Teffo was then briefed to represent four of the men accused of murdering Meyiwa.
A watching brief is held by a lawyer who effectively represents a client, albeit not directly in a criminal or civil case. Watching briefs are often held in cases where the client has an interest but is not directly involved.
It was reported the police investigated and compiled two different dockets. The first docket is currently before court, while the second reportedly came to different findings and a complete different set of suspects.
During the trial, he was arrested in full view of cameras that propelled his fame.
He also accused the Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela for ‘bewitching him’, alleged that the accused before court were not guilty without any prove, and pointed out those in the house at the time when Meyiwa was shot should be arrested and charged.
Before the cross-examination of the State’s first witness was concluded, Teffo withdrew as defence counsel, claiming he was being harassed by the court, police and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Following an order to surrender his certificates of enrolment of advocates, the court found he lacked a sense of responsibility, honesty, integrity and no longer met the threshold of a fit and proper person.
The court accepted that Teffo:
- Misled the courts on numerous occasions.
- Misappropriated funds from clients, which the court said was tantamount to theft.
- Unlawfully took briefs directly from clients.
- Did not cooperate with the LPC after it received complaints against him.
- Breached a court interdict.
It also remarked on Teffo’s disrespectful and contemptuous behaviour during legal proceedings and found he had no regard for justice.
The court appointed LPC Gauteng director Johan van Staden as the curator to administer and control Teffo’s banking accounts, which he used as a legal practitioner.
Well-known advocate Zola Majavu said Teffo’s behaviour was tantamount to disregarding the law and a shame to their profession.
Criminal law expert, Dr Llewelyn Curlewis, added that because Teffo had no right of appearance in any court, he could not hold a watching brief in a legal capacity.
EFF’s head-honcho Julius Sello Malema also lamented his behaviour and was quoted as having said “Teffo is making this about himself”.
Following his withdrawal, Teffo said he would continue as a watching brief for Sifiso on the second docket pertaining to Meyiwa’s murder.
The trial has been postponed to November.
Image (No more laughing matter. Adv Malesela Teffo struck off the roll).
