Jacaranda FM
Advocate Malesela Teffo, who represented accused number one to four in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, has called it quits.
The unexpected announcement from Teffo came shortly after his client, accused number 3 Mthobisi Mncube, read out a letter before the court on the conditions he was being subjected to at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional facility.
I hereby inform the honourable court that I am withdrawing as the counsel for accused one to four. I will no longer be able to proceed with this court based on the harassment that I am receiving from the state and from the court.
Teffo also told the judge that he did not get the respect he deserved in court.
"I am a human being, I have emotions and feelings. I deserve and demand respect. If I respect you, I demand you to respect me and that is where the demand is coming from because it is reciprocal. The reason is that I can not be in court and face you, there are serious allegations here" he said.
Advocate Malesela Teffo has made several allegations following his withdrawal from the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.
He claims the harassment he endured while in court, which led to his withdrawal from the case, was part of a plan hatched in the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
"I can’t afford to be an advocate who is representing the people who have been charged with a serious case and at the same time, I am a criminal that I am because of the state, the DPP, the police. All this has been hatched from the highest office. I am a problem and disturbing their plan that they have about these guys. I have been promised money and it is not me" he added.
Teffo shocked the High Court in Pretoria when he announced that he would no longer be representing four of the accused in the trial.
The advocate, who is no stranger to drama, was dramatically arrested in court in May.
This was in relation to a trespassing incident after he failed to appear in court.
He is facing eight charges in the Johannesburg regional court who he claims have been ‘trumped up’.
Shortly after leaving court, Teffo said he would hold a press briefing where all will be revealed.
The case has been postponed to 2 August to allow for new legal representation.
