In a dramatic twist, Advocate Malesela Teffo has told the court he is withdrawing as counsel of accused one to four in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial. He said he could not take the harassment he was receiving from the State and the court. Teffo will return to his role as watching brief on behalf of the Meyiwa family.

 

 

 
Teffo alleges that Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela is also part of the cabal that wants him removed from this case. Before the trial resumed Kelly Khumalo uttered these words :

“Those who must step done must do it now before they are wiped out”. Does this imply that she had something to do in coercing Advocate Teffo to step down in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial? …

Apparently, Teffo stepped down because of the harassment he was receiving from the court and state. Many people had hope that the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial was going to get resolved soon. They thought Advocate Teffo would help serve justice for the family of the deceased, but now what they are left with is disappointments.

After the words Kelly Khumalo uttered, many people including those who looked up to Senzo Meyiwa as their role model will think Kelly Khumalo forced Advocate Malesela Teffo to step down as the legal representative in the Senzo Meyiwa trial.

If Teffo was indeed harassed and/or receiving threats then he took a very good decision. Harassment. But he should also lay charges against all the people who have been harassing him. No one is above the law.

A complainant may become ill, both mentally and physically, due to the harassment. Harassing conduct can lead to increased stress, insomnia, anxiety and depression, poor concentration and can affect self-confidence and self-respect. The law of South Africa that deals with harassment entitles everyone to be protected from harassment. This means that anyone can go to the court or the police for assistance and have the same right to assistance or protection regardless of whether you are a South African citizen, an asylum seeker or someone with leave to remain in South African as a spouse, student or worker.