ActionSA suspends disbarred advocate and Tshwane candidate Malesela Teffo

ActionSA Gauteng has placed disbarred advocate and Tshwane ward candidate Malesela Teffo on precautionary suspension with immediate effect.

The suspension comes after Teffo appeared at the Johannesburg High Court wearing ActionSA regalia during the trial of alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. He attempted to intervene in the proceedings as a “friend of the court”, but Judge Cassim Moosa ordered him to leave after questions were raised about his standing to appear in court.

A warrant of arrest was issued and Teffo was subsequently arrested on Tuesday, 15 September, in connection with a contempt-of-court matter.

ACTIONSA LAUNCHES DISCIPLINARY PROCESS AGAINST MALESELA TEFFO

ActionSA Gauteng chairperson Funzi Ngobeni said the party’s disciplinary process against Teffo was already underway before his arrest.

Ngobeni said earlier this month that concerns about Teffo’s conduct had been referred to the party’s Provincial Ethics and Disciplinary Officer (PEDO).

The referral followed Teffo’s appearance at the Johannesburg High Court wearing ActionSA regalia and his subsequent response after the party’s Tshwane structures asked him to account for his conduct.

According to Ngobeni, PEDO found that there was a prima facie basis for the disciplinary process to continue.

“The suspension is not a finding of guilt. Mr Teffo will have an opportunity to respond to the matters before PEDO, and the process must be allowed to run fairly,” Ngobeni said.

The Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) subsequently considered Teffo’s arrest, along with the advice from PEDO, and decided that a precautionary suspension was appropriate while the disciplinary process continues.

BREAKING: TEFO ARRESTED

Disbarred advocate Malesela Teffo has been arrested.

A warrant was issued earlier for his arrest.

Tefo reportedly went to the Legal Practice Council to obtain a certificate of good standing.

LPC officials, however, alerted police, who arrived and… pic.twitter.com/YYaGjzv4E3

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) September 15, 2026

FORMER ADVOCATE BARRED FROM PARTY ACTIVITIES

While suspended, Teffo may not participate in ActionSA campaign or party activities, represent or speak on behalf of the party, or present himself as acting on behalf of the organisation.

PEDO has been instructed to deal with the matter urgently and report back to the PEC.

Ngobeni said the suspension was intended to regulate Teffo’s participation and status within the party while the internal process was underway.

“ActionSA expects its candidates and public representatives to account when serious questions are raised about their conduct. At the same time, we will not replace a proper disciplinary process with a trial through the media,” he said.

Teffo is currently an ActionSA ward candidate in Tshwane ahead of the 4 November local government elections.

The party said the precautionary suspension relates to his participation and status within ActionSA while the disciplinary process is being finalised. It has not announced that he has been removed as a candidate.

The Legal Practice Council has confirmed that Teffo remains struck off the roll and has not been readmitted to practise as an advocate.