The murder trial of Senzo Meyiwa was very dramatic this afternoon following the arrest of defense advocate Dan Teffo in court. According to several sources, Teffo was arrested for failing to appear before the court. However, during the arrest, he maintained that he did not know what he was being arrested for and that the arresting officer did not read him his rights.

 

 
He also alleged that Police Minister Bheki Cele is against his involvement in the case, citing that his arrest was Cele’s doing. While being held at Hillbrow Police Station, Teffo alleged that the warrant of arrest eas are fraudulent, that it was for a charge that has already been canceled, and that the warrant for his arrest was issued in January, but the police only arrested him today.

For obvious reasons, how Teffo was arrested raised a lot of people, who began suspecting that high profile people are worried about what Teffo might reveal in court and were trying to silence him.

Speaking to Newzroom Afrika regarding his visit to Pimville for the SAPS Imbizo, Cele was asked about the allegations made against him by Teffo. In his response, the minister said that the National Police Commissioner will be investigating the matter and will give him a full report once done. This, he assured, includes how Teffo was arrested.

The masses are demanding that Cele should stop interfering in this case, that he must allow Teffo to do his job peacefully. Some are wondering why Cele deviates from the allegation made against him by Teffo, wondering why he chooses what he wants to answer while leaving out vital information.

Opinion

As a legal representative, Advocate Teffo knows the serious implications of ignoring a warrant of arrest. Why would he ignore it? This makes it seem like the drama, embarrassment, and disruption in the court of law are deliberate. This has reflected poorly on the SAPS and Cele.