JOHANNESBURG - In a bizarre turn of events, disbarred lawyer Malesela Teffo attempted to intervene in the attempted murder case against underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his co-accused.
This was as the trial-within-a-trial in the high-profile case resumed at the Johannesburg High Court on Monday.
Matlala, his wife Tsakani, Musa Kekana, Tiego Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama face 25 charges linked to alleged assassination attempts.
READ | 'Cat' Matlala, co-accused back in court for attempted murder case
Teffo arrived at court in full legal robes and sought to address the court, claiming that the constitutional rights of the five accused had been violated.
However, the defence lawyers objected to his intervention, arguing that Teffo had no legal standing and was wasting both their time and that of the court.
Judge Cassim Moosa ordered Teffo to provide documentary proof that he had been readmitted to practise as a legal practitioner before his application could be entertained. Teffo remains struck off the roll and has not been readmitted to practise.
Following Teffo’s departure, the State continued with the evidence of Dr Pooja Panicker, the medical doctor who treated alleged hitman Musa Kekana after his arrest in April 2024.
The defence has been challenging the contents of Panicker’s medical records, including the history she recorded regarding Kekana’s alleged assault and his reported symptoms.
The trial is expected to continue on Tuesday, with further evidence in the trial-within-a-trial.