Advocate Malesela Daniel Teffo, who is representing four of the five accused on trial for the murder of goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, has not only taken centre stage in court but has become a star attraction in the high-profile case.
Since the trial started on Monday the fairly unknown Teffo has been trending on social media and has become an overnight meme character and featured on TikTok for his antics, colourful character and his use of the English language, which often agitated judge Tshifhiwa Maumela.
Teffo’s first run-in with the judge was on the second day of the trial during Teffo’s cross-examination of the state's first witness, Sgt Thabo Mosia, who was confirmed to be an “expert” in his work. However, Teffo insisted on using the word “mastermind” to define the witness’s level of expertise.
Maumela, who seemed irritated, then suggested that Teffo get himself a dictionary during the lunch break and learn the difference between the two words. Maumela’s suggestion was greeted with barely suppressed giggles from the gallery.
The exchanges between Teffo and his seeming nemesis prosecutor George Baloyi, Maumela and Mosia escalated as the trial proceeded and questions were being raised over his line of questioning, which seemed to test the judge’s patience.
Teffo then took a swipe at Baloyi’s experience, asserting that he had been a police officer for a number of years before he became a lawyer. Maumela then interjected, saying his questions must be limited to the case and Baloyi’s evidence.
“All of us have a past. I might have been a taxi driver but it's not relevant…Let me rule, that you were police officer is irrelevant. Stop asking questions around that,” said the judge, to which Teffo responded that the court was “confine” him (sic).
Sarcasm and dry humour were also part of Teffo’s ammunition at the trial, especially when Baloyi would object to a question he posed to the witness.
“It is clear that I'm just going to be objected to with every question I raise,” Teffo said, adding that the court should adjourn so that Baloyi can write the questions he wants Mosia to be asked.
On Thursday Teffo had the court in stitches when his first question to Mosia was how he spent his Freedom Day. The question came after the court spent about 20 minutes deliberating on how to rein in Teffo to stick to relevant questions.
“Mr Baloyi always has an objection. He can’t even allow me to greet the witness,” he said after Baloyi shouted another objection.
After serving in SAPS, Teffo switched careers to become a labour lawyer and won many cases representing SAPS employees who had taken their employer to court.
Teffo's arrest on Thursday was not the first. On July 22 2020 he was nabbed after he tried to gain entry to the Gauteng SAPS provincial headquarters to represent a client in an arbitration matter and was charged with trespassing and common assault.
He was later released on R1,500 bail.
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