Africa-Press – South-Africa. Defence advocate Malesela Teffo’s request to stop the prosecution of the men charged in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has failed.
In July, Teffo, who was representing four of the men charged with murdering the former Bafana Bafana captain, submitted what he said was a request to National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).
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Teffo asked NDPP, advocate Shamila Batohi, to exercise her powers under Section 6 (b) of the Criminal Procedure Act, which deals with the power to withdraw charges against an accused or stop a prosecution.
However, Section 6 (b) gives the NDPP the authority to stop a prosecution at any time after the accused have pleaded, but before judgment.
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Teffo based his request on claims that two of the accused in the Meyiwa trial made confession statements under duress.
Teffo has since withdrawn as defence counsel in the matter.
On Monday, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria heard that the request made to Batohi was denied.
Prosecutor, advocate George Baloyi, told the court that the “application” was unsuccessful and that attorney TT Thobane, representing four of the accused, had been notified.
No reasons were given as to why Teffo’s request was denied.
Meyiwa was shot dead in Vosloorus, Gauteng, in October 2014 at the home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo.
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