A court session for South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence boss, Major-General Dumisani Khumalo, took an unexpected turn on Wednesday. Khumalo and two co-accused were seeking to have their bail conditions relaxed so they could return to work when advocate Malesela Teffo intervened.
Teffo asked the Pretoria court to join the case as a “friend of the court,” a role that allows an outsider to provide expertise or information.
Khumalo, along with six colleagues, was arrested in June. They face serious allegations related to unlawful senior appointments within the police force. During their first court appearance, all but one were granted bail of R10,000 each.
The hearing on Wednesday was about to begin under a new presiding officer when Teffo made his application. The magistrate allowed him to speak.
Teffo began by stating his name and his request to be a friend of the court. He then explained his reasons, claiming the accused were “very dangerous people.”
“I am also the accused in another case,” Teffo told the court. “They are part of sending me to jail. When I was in jail, they were monitoring my communications.”
He started to name Brigadier Moyana as an appointee of Khumalo, but was interrupted by the legal counsel for Khumalo and the others, advocate Zandile Mshololo. She told the court that Teffo was not following proper court procedures.