The Presidency on Wednesday mentioned it “strongly refutes the false claims made by Advocate Malesela Teffo” that the workplace was behind his alleged intimidation which has led to his withdrawal from the Senzo Meyiwa trial.
Teffo – who withdrew as a authorized consultant for accused one to 4 within the homicide trial – cited harassment from the police, the National Prosecuting Authority, in addition to the state and Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela.
He dropped the bombshell in courtroom on Tuesday afternoon, moments after studying out a letter from accused quantity three, who claimed that he was being ill-treated on the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre.
“I can not afford to be the advocate representing the people who have been charged with a serious case and at the same time I am a criminal that I am, criminal that I am, because of the state, the DPP, the police. All this thing has been hatched from the highest office in the land,” Teffo mentioned on Tuesday.
“I am a problem. I am disturbing their plan that they have about these guys. I have been promised the money to get out of this. It’s not me. At the end of the day the society must know what is happening there.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya mentioned the Presidency “finds these unsubstantiated and baseless claims mischievous and harmful to the standing of the office of the president”.
He added: “The Presidency doesn’t take part in felony investigations or trials and isn’t concerned in any perceived or precise harassment of Advocate Teffo.
“As an officer of the court and a professional in the legal fraternity, Advocate Teffo must appreciate the level of veracity that is necessary to support such claims about any institution or individual. The Presidency espouses the values of our constitution and cherishes the protection, safety and justice for all.”
Antics distracted from deserves of the trial
Legal consultants have reacted to Teffo’s withdrawal, with some saying the controversial advocate’s behaviour has distracted from the deserves of the particular case.
Five males are standing trial for the 2014 homicide of the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and captain.
Teffo represented Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Mncube and Mthokoziseni Maphisa. Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli, is represented by Advocate Zandile Mshololo.
One of the outstanding function gamers within the case, Advocate Gerrie Nel, instructed The Citizen he didn’t wish to touch upon his colleague’s behaviour, solely that the scenario was “unfortunate”.
ALSO READ: Advocate Teffo ‘incompetent’, antics distracted from deserves of Meyiwa trial
Nel mentioned the trial was speculated to have been dominated by discussions across the crime and nothing else. “We haven’t handled the deserves of this case aside from conspiracy theories and numerous functions that had been introduced earlier than the courtroom.
“This matter has been on the court roll for months and we have not finalised a single witness, and the delays that we have had, have also been an injustice to our clients who have been waiting for years to find the truth,” he mentioned.
ALSO READ: Advocate Teffo withdraws from Senzo Meyiwa case – blames choose, harassment
Regarding the best way ahead following Teffo’s withdrawal, Nel mentioned he can solely hope the trial can be able to resume in September. He mentioned that is particularly uncertain, contemplating that the Legal Aid Board had offered attorneys for the accused, which they’d refused in favour of offering their very own counsel.
“The last I heard was that the clients have been given until beginning of August to find new counsel,” Nel added.
Teffo’s arguments ‘unheard of in law’
Reacting to Teffo’s announcement, felony legislation knowledgeable Dr Llewellyn Curlewis mentioned the advocate had been “incompetent” all through the courtroom case. “When one looks at the kind of applications he kept bringing up, I mean some of them are unheard of in law. He (Teffo) should have known better.”
Curlewis mentioned Teffo’s withdrawal doesn’t imply the matter will now have to start out afresh. “The matter can still be saved and I don’t think there will be a need for a retrial, unless a special application is brought.”
Meanwhile, it’s believed Teffo mentioned in courtroom paperwork that he was a member of the Pretoria bar. Attempts to get affirmation from the bar had been unsuccessful. The Johannesburg bar mentioned it didn’t have Teffo as a registered member.
