Cape Town – Advocate Malesela Teffo, who was representing four of the five accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, has reportedly withdrawn from the case as counsel.
He stated the reasons for his withdrawal at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday, reports said.
Without any evidence, Teffo reportedly told judge Tshifhiwa Maumela that a plan to harass him was hatched from the President’s Office, News24 reported.
“I will no longer be able to proceed in this court, based on the harassment that I am receiving from the State and from the court,” the report quoted Teffo as saying.
JUST IN! Adv #Teffo withdraws from the #SenzoMeyiwatrial. In his #withdrawal, #Teffo cites interference from @PresidencyZA #Ramaphosa. Saying instructions are hatched and planned from Office of “Number 1”, the President of South Africa. pic.twitter.com/UaBIOtzKNO
— Thabiso Sithole (@ThabisoSithole) July 12, 2022
He reportedly said there were serious allegations, adding that judge Maumela was implicated as “accused number one”, the report said.
According to Teffo the master plan was for his former clients to take the fall for the murder and his involvement was allegedly disturbing that plan, a report by IOL said.
“I am labelled a problematic lawyer because I am disturbing that plan, the plan is that my clients should take responsibility of the murder of Senzo Meyiwa, despite the fact that they were innocent,” Teffo was quoted as saying.
The report said Teffo was interrupted by State prosecutor, advocate George Baloyi who said that it was unfair for the defence advocate to name people who were not in court to defend themselves.
JUST IN! Adv #Teffo withdraws from the #SenzoMeyiwatrial. In his #withdrawal, #Teffo cites interference from @PresidencyZA #Ramaphosa. Saying instructions are hatched and planned from Office of “Number 1”, the President of South Africa. pic.twitter.com/UaBIOtzKNO
— Thabiso Sithole (@ThabisoSithole) July 12, 2022
Teffo would be returning to his role as watching brief on behalf of the Meyiwa family, The Citizen reported.
“At the time when I was approached together with my attorney to represent the accused, I was a watching brief for the Meyiwa family in so far as case number two is concerned,” the report quoted Teffo as saying.
Outside the court, journalists asked Teffo if he had evidence of the allegations he levelled against the President’s office, and he responded by saying that all will be revealed in an upcoming press conference.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
