[WATCH] Lawyer in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial arrested in court

During the ongoing trial of Senzo Meyiwa’s murder, Advocate Malesela Teffo was unexpectedly taken into custody in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday afternoon 28 April.

Advocate Teffo is the defence lawyer in the trial and is representing four of the accused men.

Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifiso Ntuli have been charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, attempted murder, and the murder of the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper in October 2014.

All five suspects have pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

An unexpected arrest

In a surprise twist of events, a few minutes after Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela postponed the trial, an investigating officer accompanied by more police officers approached Teffo.

News24 reported that the officers had a warrant of arrest that was issued by the court. And apparently, the advocate was being arrested due to allegedly missing a court appearance in a different case where he is the accused.

Teffo was arrested in full view of the accused as well as the court gallery.

It was further reported that when looking into Teffo’s history, it shows that he was arrested in July 2020 and charged with “common assault and trespassing”.

The charges came after he reportedly tried entering one of the South African Police buildings to represent a client regarding a labour dispute.

Tweeps believe Kelly Khumalo could be involved

South African singer Kelly Khumalo and Meyiwa were a couple and even shared a child together when Meyiwa was unexpectedly murdered in her home in 2014. There was a reported break-in and even though there were a group of people, only Meyiwa was shot and one cellphone was stolen.

And because Khumalo is involved in the case and believed to either be behind the murder of Meyiwa or withholding the truth of who killed him, tweeps were quick to think that she could also be linked to Teffo’s arrest.