Johannesburg – Former advocate Malesela Teffo was ordered to stand down from the Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala attempted murder trial after his bid to bring an application on behalf of his foundation was challenged by the court and the accused.
According to Eyewitness News, accused number two, Floyd Mabusela, complained through his lawyer that Teffo was wasting the court’s time. Other accused also distanced themselves from the intervention, saying they already had legal teams representing them.
Teffo told Johannesburg High Court Judge Carrim Moosa that he was appearing on behalf of the Malesela Teffo Pro Bono Foundation, which he said was established to assist indigent litigants. He claimed the constitutional rights of all five accused had been violated.
The Judge in the Matlala case tells Malesela Teffo to voetsek out of his Court as he is not an advocate. pic.twitter.com/eK0lhWTLL7
— Sentletse 🇿🇦🇷🇺🇵🇸🇱🇧 (@Sentletse) August 31, 2026
“I believe there has been a gross violation of the constitutional rights of all the accused in this matter,” Teffo told the court.
According to IOL, Moosa questioned Teffo’s standing to appear in court and whether he had been readmitted to the roll of advocates after being struck off in 2022.
Teffo acknowledged that an order had removed him from the roll but claimed the order was fraudulent. When asked for the date of his readmission, he cited his original admission as an advocate in 2009 rather than providing a date of readmission.
WATCH: Teffo addresses the court on behalf of his legal entity called the Malesela Teffo Foundation which he says represents indigent litigants.
He wants to bring an application because he believes all the Constitutional rights of all accused in the matter are being violated.… https://t.co/VH45R3sGRq pic.twitter.com/wzpoUEAjki
— Kaya News (@KayaNews) August 31, 2026
The Legal Practice Council has previously confirmed that Teffo remains struck off and is not entitled to practise as a legal practitioner.
With a medical witness waiting to testify, the judge ordered Teffo to stand down and directed him to produce proof of any readmission before his application could be considered.
The court then proceeded with the trial-within-a-trial concerning allegations that accused Musa Kekana was assaulted and suffocated by police following his arrest.
A medical doctor subsequently testified about treating Kekana at Edenvale Hospital.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
