Deputy Chief Justice Dunstan Mlambo has dismissed a misconduct complaint that disbarred advocate Malesela Teffo lodged against Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela, who is presiding over the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial. News24 reported the decision on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
Teffo had questioned the judge’s conduct during the trial and made several claims about how the case was being handled. He alleged that Maumela was a compromised judge who had been appointed to help sabotage the proceedings, and that he was part of a conspiracy to do so.
Mlambo considered the complaint as chairperson of the Judicial Conduct Committee. He found no objective evidence to support the allegations and dismissed the complaint. This ended Teffo’s attempt to have the judge’s conduct looked into through the judicial disciplinary process.
According to the ruling, which is dated 22 September 2026, the complaint was dealt with under section 17 of the Judicial Service Commission Act. Maumela was given a chance to respond and submitted written representations. Teffo was then invited to comment on the judge’s response, but he did not provide any substantial comments in the time allowed. After a reminder from the Judicial Service Commission’s secretariat, he only said that the matter could go ahead. Mlambo then made his decision after looking at the complaint, Maumela’s written response and the documents placed before the committee.
The ruling is another setback for Teffo, whose role in the Meyiwa case has drawn a lot of public attention. It comes a week after he was jailed for contempt of court. He was also struck off the roll of advocates earlier, which means he can no longer practise as a legal practitioner.
The murder trial itself continues to attract strong public interest. Five men are accused of killing Meyiwa, the former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, who was shot dead in October 2014 at the Vosloorus home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo. More than a decade later, the case is still closely watched.
The ruling shows how important evidence is when serious allegations are made against members of the judiciary, especially in a case that has been under national scrutiny for so long.