Mary de Haas has accused the SA Police Service (SAPS) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of orchestrating a conspiracy to keep disbarred advocate Malesela Teffo behind bars.
De Haas is a research fellow at the School of Law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a good friend of the disgruntled advocate.
The pair has worked together in many cases including the contentious Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, specifically on the second docket.
In a letter addressed to national commissioner of police, General Fannie Masemola, on November 7, De Haas claims that there is an apparent plot to prevent Teffo from securing bail due to his involvement in the Senzo Meyiwa murder case.
According to the letter, Teffo was allegedly threatened to withdraw charges he had filed against generals Shadrack Sibiya, Tebello Mosikili, and the late Brigadier Philani Ndlovu in Vosloorus (CAS210/03/2023).
Charges against police generals
De Haas stated that an investigator in Teffo’s case informed him that he would only be released from prison if he dropped the charges against the generals.
She said Teffo was summoned to the office of the then-acting commissioner at Johannesburg Prison, widely known as Sun City, and told that his release was contingent on withdrawing the case and stepping back from his role in the Meyiwa trial.
“Teffo alleges that during the early part of his incarceration, he was told that he would not be released until he withdrew the case against Sibiya et al, and withdrawn from his acting brief in the Senzo Meyiwa trial currently under way,” writes De Haas in the letter.
Teffo has been in custody for three months following his arrest on August 1 on charges of malicious damage to property and assault.
The charges stem from an incident where he is accused of gaining entry into a building without permission, breaking into his own office, and assaulting a security officer.
Lumka Mahanjana, spokesperson for the NPA, previously stated that Teffo initially refused to cooperate with the police but eventually agreed to have his fingerprints taken.
Deliberate delays in bail hearing
However, De Haas alleges there have been deliberate delays in Teffo’s bail hearing, even after he complied with fingerprinting, citing various “pretexts” for the delays.
“When a member of Teffo’s legal team called officer Supe on August 1 2023, he was shocked to be told that ‘I got orders from the DPP [director of public prosecutions] to arrest him’,” reads the letter.
“He was told that instructions about charging him came from ‘above’. Teffo initially refused to give his fingerprints because of the irregular procedures he had been subjected to, arguing that they could charge him without taking his fingerprints first.
“He later allowed to proceed. The matter was remanded for seven days and the magistrate ordered he be detained in prison.
“Three months later after the arrest and incarceration, there has still been no bail hearing, with various pretexts having been used to delay it, even after Teffo had supplied his fingerprints … Even after his younger brother died, his failure to get bail meant he could not attend his funeral.”
Police refute allegations
SAPS national spokesperson Athlenda Mathe refuted the allegations, stating that police have no authority over Teffo’s release or further incarceration.
Mathe urged those making the allegations to provide evidence for investigation.
“Police have no authority over his release or further incarceration,” Mathe said.
“The allegations that are mentioned are baseless and meritless, those who allege must provide evidence so as to enable our teams to investigate the matter.”
Responding to Sunday World’s questions, Mahanjana did not address the allegations.
Instead, she confirmed that Teffo’s bail application was heard on November 8 and November 15 as previously scheduled, but the controversial former lawyer abandoned the application.
Mahanjana explained that Teffo is due back in court on Wednesday without legal representation.
Sunday World understands Teffo withdrew his lawyer’s mandate during his previous appearance.
“While representing himself, he told the court that he would no longer be applying for bail and opted to abandon his bail application,” said Mahanjana.
“Unfortunately, I cannot comment on allegations made by Teffo.”
