Advocate Malesela Teffo has endured a turbulent fall from grace in recent years, marked by allegations of misconduct, disbarment, legal battles, and serious criminal charges.
Accusations and Disbarment
A former police officer turned labour lawyer after his admission in 2009, Teffo faced multiple ethics complaints dating back to 2015. Allegations included assaulting and harassing police officers, defaming them, entering SAPS offices in defiance of interdicts, and unprofessional courtroom conduct—such as wearing jeans and leather jackets in court.
In August 2023, Teffo was arrested on charges including fraud, assault, malicious damage to property, and trespassing. He appeared in Pretoria Magistrate’s Court shortly after and was released on bail
According to claims made by Senzo Meyiwa’s brother on a podcast in September 2024, Teffo has since “lost almost everything”: from his career to his home, with his family reportedly facing eviction and his children being expelled from school—a deeply personal aftermath of his legal battles. These claims have yet to be formally verified .
