Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has refuted claims by Advocate Malesela Teffo that the Presidency was behind his alleged harassment and his subsequent decision to withdraw from the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.
Teffo, who was representing four of the five accused in the Meyiwa murder trial, withdrew from the case as counsel on Tuesday.
According to News24, without substantiation or giving evidence to the effect, Teffo claimed that his withdrawal had been prompted by a plan to harass him that was apparently hatched in the office of president Ramaphosa.
ALSO READ | WATCH | Advocate Malesela Teffo quits Senzo Meyiwa murder trial… cites harassment
“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.
But the Presidency on Wednesday denied the claims, saying they were “baseless”.
“The Presidency has noted and strongly refutes the false claims by Advocate Malesela Teffo that the Presidency ios behind his alleged intimidation and subsequent decision to withdraw from the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial,” the Presidency said in a statement.
THE PRESIDENCY REFUTES ADV TEFFO’S BASELESS TIRADE
The Presidency has noted and strongly refutes the false claims made by Advocate Malesela Teffo that the Presidency is behind his alleged intimidation and subsequent decision to withdraw from the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) July 13, 2022
eNCA quoted Meyiwa’s family lawyer Gerrie Nel as saying that Teffo’s withdrawal would certainly cause delays to the case.
“He (Nel) says this is an injustice to the family who just want to find closure and have the perpetrator brought to book,” the report said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
