Malesela Teffo remains struck off the roll as his surprise appearance at Cat Matlala case raises legal questions
LPC shuts down claims of Teffo’s return
The Legal Practice Council (LPC) has once again clarified that former advocate Malesela Teffo has not been readmitted to practise law in South Africa, despite his recent public appearances and claims that he is ready to return to legal work.
The clarification comes after Teffo made a surprise appearance at the Johannesburg High Court during proceedings involving alleged underworld figure Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala and his co-accused.
The LPC has been unequivocal about his professional status.
“The LPC wishes to categorically state that these reports are incorrect. Mr Teffo remains struck from the roll of legal practitioners and has not been readmitted to the legal profession. He is therefore not entitled to practise as a legal practitioner in South Africa,” the council said.
The council also confirmed that no application relating to Teffo’s possible readmission had been considered or approved.
Teffo turns up at Matlala proceedings
Teffo’s appearance at the high-profile Cat Matlala matter has renewed questions about his role in court.
The former advocate arrived at the Johannesburg High Court and sought to become involved in proceedings surrounding Matlala, who is facing serious criminal allegations alongside his co-accused.
Lawyers representing Matlala and the other accused have questioned Teffo’s standing, particularly in light of the LPC’s confirmation that he remains struck off the roll.
Teffo has reportedly brought an application through his Malesela Teffo Pro-Bono Foundation, an organisation that says it seeks to assist people who cannot afford legal representation.
His appearance comes against the backdrop of a long-running dispute over his ability to return to legal practice.
How Teffo lost his right to practise
Teffo became a household name during the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, where he represented four of the accused before withdrawing from the matter in 2022.
But on 16 September 2022, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ordered that he be removed from the roll of legal practitioners following an application by the LPC.
The court found that his conduct was serious, repetitive and inconsistent with the standards expected of a legal practitioner. The judgment ordered Teffo to surrender his certificate of enrolment.
The disciplinary proceedings involved a range of allegations. Court records referred to complaints concerning, among other things, professional misconduct, dealings with clients and alleged failures to comply with court orders.
The matter did not end with the original strike-off.
In October 2023, Teffo was also found in contempt of court for disobeying parts of the 2022 strike-off order and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.
Criminal acquittal did not restore his legal status
Teffo’s latest claims about returning to legal work followed his acquittal on six criminal charges in July 2026.
Following the outcome, Teffo said he was relieved and argued that the criminal proceedings had damaged his reputation and relationships with clients.
“My name has been dented, and the clients are no longer trusting me in terms of doing all the cases,” he said.
He also said he intended returning to the Senzo Meyiwa matter and claimed he was engaging with Legal Aid South Africa about taking over the defence.
But being acquitted of criminal charges did not automatically undo the separate professional disciplinary order that removed him from the roll.
The LPC has stressed that readmission requires a formal process under the Legal Practice Act. An application must be considered, including whether the applicant is a fit and proper person, before a court ultimately determines whether readmission should be granted.
What the LPC says happens next
For now, the position is clear: Teffo remains a former advocate and cannot practise as a legal practitioner in South Africa.
The LPC says no readmission application concerning Teffo has been approved, meaning his appearance in court cannot be interpreted as evidence that he has regained his right to practise.
His presence in the Matlala proceedings has therefore placed his legal status back in the spotlight, with the court and the parties involved now having to deal with the question of what role, if any, he can lawfully play in the matter.
The distinction is important: Teffo’s acquittal on criminal charges may have removed those particular criminal proceedings against him, but it has not erased the High Court’s 2022 order striking him from the roll.
For Teffo to return formally to legal practice, the LPC says he would first have to go through the prescribed readmission process.
