By Neelam Rahim

Civil society organisation has condemned advocate Malesela Teffo, the advocate for four of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, for his remarks about the presiding judge Tshifhiwa Maumela. Teffo previously withdrew from representing four of the accused and then announced his return to the matter last week. The controversial defence lawyer alleged that a sangoma linked to Judge Maumela was on a mission to cause him to collapse inside the court.

Radio Islam International discusses with Judges Matter’s Vuyani Ndzishe.

Expressing his concerns, Vuyani said these are nothing short of attacks on the judiciary and, in particular, judge Maumela. He says, “Our concern is that this particular conduct is very unsavoury, especially for a legal practitioner who took an oath to administer justice and also to protect the reputation of the court.”

According to Vuyani, Advocate Teffo should publicly withdraw his statement, given that he took an oath to uphold the constitution and observe the administration of justice. That should be the line taken.

He says legal practitioners take oaths when they assume the office to be advocates or practices of attorneys to uphold the constitution and protect the court’s reputation. These are the legal and ethical standards that one has to observe.

He added that legal practitioners had been called in the past to order and sanctioned for violating the code of ethics.

Meanwhile, Advocate Mpofu essentially told a colleague to shut up. Vuyani said, although the LPC found him not guilty, this is not the type of conduct that should be frowned upon because if this continues, it festers and causes severe problems in how the administrators of justice are carried out.

Listen to the full interview on Radio Islam’s podcast below.