The Legal Practice Council (LPC) has officially debunked widespread reports claiming that former advocate Malesela Teffo has been reinstated into the legal profession.
In a formal media statement, the statutory regulator expressed serious concern over recent media broadcasts and social media posts which incorrectly asserted that Teffo had been readmitted to practice law.
The council categorically clarified that these reports are entirely false, confirming that Teffo remains struck from the roll of legal practitioners. Consequently, he holds no legal standing or entitlement to practice as a legal professional anywhere within South Africa.
The regulatory body detailed that any application for readmission by a disbarred practitioner requires rigorous evaluation under the framework of the Legal Practice Act.
As part of its statutory mandate to protect the public interest, the LPC is obligated to thoroughly assess whether an applicant is a fit and proper person before a court can consider rehabilitation. Because legal practitioners serve as officers of the court, the council’s evaluation forms a critical checkpoint in any formal readmission process.
According to the council, no such application regarding Teffo’s potential readmission has been tabled, reviewed, or approved by the national or provincial structures. Furthermore, no administrative decision has been taken by the regulator to support his return to active legal practice.
Concluding its directive, the LPC urged media houses and members of the public to exercise caution and directly verify the professional standing of legal practitioners through official council communication channels before publishing or relying on unverified claims.
The organization reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to upholding the integrity, independence, and overall public credibility of South Africa’s legal fraternity.