Advocate Malesela Teffo defends Kelly Khumalo against bullying
Despite previously accusing Kelly of involvement in Senzo Meyiwa's murder, Teffo now asks fellow South Africans to cease harassing the singer.
Last week, Teffo claimed Kelly shot and killed her late partner, Senzo Meyiwa, causing widespread outrage and backlash across platforms. Meyiwa, the former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, was murdered on October 26, 2014, while visiting Kelly's mother's home in Vosloorus.
Five men currently face charges in this high-profile case, which has been ongoing for several years without resolution. Although disbarred for misconduct, Teffo continued making wild accusations against Kelly during a recent appearance on Podcast and Chill .
Now, he publicly regrets his statements and urges the public to respect the legal process and refrain from harassment. In a video shared by Ntsiki Mazwai on X, Teffo pleaded for kindness and stressed the importance of Kelly's testimony in court.
'I want to make a plea to my countrymen and women in relation to the treatment of Ms Nonhlanhla Kelly Khumalo. I have seen that she has made an attempt to respond to what I said on Podcast and Chill; however, it was not necessarily because I was not fighting.
'Kelly is a very important witness in Senzo Meyiwa's case. We need her to testify. I'm pleading with you to refrain from attacking her and saying nasty things about her.'
Teffo says the ' Empini ' singer has never refused to testify, but Advocate George Baloyi continues to avoid calling her to court. He insists Kelly and Longwe Twala could provide crucial evidence that could prove the five accused suspects are innocent beyond doubt.
Teffo believes both hold key facts that expose the truth and potentially clear the wrongly accused men completely. He maintains the suspects are innocent and claims the real killers remain free due to failures in the initial investigation.
'I assure you that I'm going back to this case. I will call Kelly Khumalo, and within two months, the case will be closed with the truth on this matter. It's my humble plea that we respect Kelly,' says Teffo.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
26 minutes ago
- IOL News
Pair sentenced for leaking matric paper
Two men admitted to unlawfully distributing the Mathematics Paper 2 exam, which caused significant disruption for learners and education authorities across the country. Image: File Two men have been sentenced by the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court after pleading guilty to leaking the 2020 matric mathematics exam paper. The case, which stirred nationwide concern over exam security, involved Themba Daniel Shikwambana, 36, and Thobile Sweetbetter Duze, 48. Both men admitted to unlawfully distributing the Mathematics Paper 2 exam, which caused significant disruption for learners and education authorities across the country. The Department of Basic Education first became aware of the leak on November 16, 2020, when a verified copy of the exam paper surfaced on WhatsApp. The exam paper was confirmed to be genuine after the department received reports that learners in Limpopo and Gauteng had access to the test ahead of the scheduled exam date. The early circulation of the exam prompted immediate concern and sparked an investigation by law enforcement. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo explained that the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Pretoria was tasked with the probe. This led to the arrest of Shikwambana on November 25, 2020, in Orange Farm. At the time, Shikwambana was employed by a printing company in Johannesburg, responsible for producing official exam materials. Authorities suspect he had access to the papers before they were distributed to schools. The investigation expanded and eventually led to the arrest of Duze on June 10, 2021, in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal. Both men faced charges related to the theft and unlawful distribution of examination papers. Their actions exposed serious weaknesses in the handling and protection of national exam materials, raising concerns about the safety and fairness of the education system. On July 23, 2025, the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court handed down sentences. Both men were fined 100,000 rand or faced 12 months in prison. However, the court suspended half of the fine, 50,000 rand, on the condition that they neither commit similar offences over the next five years. The remaining fine must be paid in monthly instalments of 5,000 rand by April 2026. Additionally, the court issued a fully suspended three-year prison sentence, which will only be enforced if either man commits a similar crime during the suspension period. This case formed part of a larger scandal in 2020 when the Physical Science Paper 2 was also leaked just hours before the exam was to be written. Both leaks caused widespread confusion and uncertainty for matric learners who were already coping with challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. These incidents undermined confidence in the examination system and led to legal debates on how to proceed with affected exams. In December 2020, the Gauteng High Court ruled that Education Minister Angie Motshekga did not have the authority to force learners to rewrite the exams. This judgment brought some relief to students, but the damage to the education system's reputation was already significant. The leak highlighted vulnerabilities within the exam security framework and triggered calls for tighter controls and more accountability within the Department of Basic Education. Since then, the department has made efforts to improve the security of exam papers to prevent future leaks. Many learners and educators viewed the leaks as an unfair addition to the difficulties faced during a challenging year marked by school closures and disruptions. The 2020 matric class had to contend with multiple obstacles, and the exam leaks added further pressure and anxiety. The court's ruling serves as a warning that exam fraud and theft of official documents will not be tolerated. It is hoped that this decision will deter future attempts to compromise the integrity of South Africa's education system. Ensuring that examinations remain secure and fair is essential for maintaining trust in the country's academic standards.
Daily Maverick
2 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Meta held accountable by SA court in fight against online child sexual abuse
Following a landmark Gauteng Division of the High Court judgment, Meta must permanently remove dozens of accounts spreading child sexual abuse content and provide information on offenders to South African authorities. In a landmark ruling, South Africa's Gauteng Division of the High Court has ordered Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, to permanently close dozens of anonymous accounts distributing explicit child sexual abuse material involving local schoolchildren. Meta must also provide identifying information of the offenders to aid prosecution, marking a pivotal step in South Africa's fight against online child abuse. Emma Sadleir from The Digital Law Co, who has been at the forefront of the legal battle, said the issue escalated after a call from a Centurion school about harmful content spreading rapidly across WhatsApp channels and Instagram accounts, with some gaining 20,000 followers within hours. These accounts cross-promoted content, moving users from Instagram to WhatsApp, where more extreme material circulated. When Meta failed to act despite repeated reports, The Digital Law Co sought legal intervention. On 14 July 2025, the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg ordered Meta and three officials to remove six WhatsApp channels and 30 Instagram profiles, to block the offenders from creating new accounts, and to disclose their identities. Though some accounts were deleted, many remained active, and new profiles emerged rapidly, prompting a contempt of court application demanding immediate removal, permanent disabling of offender access, and disclosure of identities. Highly explicit, identifiable and harmful content targeting minors The explicit nature of the content circulating on the Meta-owned platforms was deeply disturbing, said Sadleir. She said there was highly explicit and illegal content involving South African school children. This material included graphic child sexual abuse images and videos, such as footage of minors engaging in sexual acts at school, often filmed by other pupils. These posts frequently contained identifying information about the victims, including their names, grades and schools, alongside offensive and defamatory descriptions. The content was not only pornographic but also widely disseminated to large groups of mostly underage followers. 'The most extreme content was obviously the nudes and the sex tapes. Some of them were consensually created, but many were not. They named the kids, linked to their Instagram or TikTok profiles, mentioned their schools, grades — even classes. So anyone viewing could easily identify who they were, and that level of specificity has devastating consequences for the children involved,' said Sadleir. From a legal perspective Sadleir said this was clear-cut child pornography. 'We know these kids are under 18, often as young as Grade 7 or 8. Any private sexual photos or videos involving minors fall squarely under child pornography laws,' she said. The content was not only sexual, but horrifyingly exploitative and degrading. 'There were messages about kids exchanging sex for taxi rides, girls with STIs, reports of sexual abuse by family members, even cases of repeated abortions. It was extreme and deeply upsetting, just completely unacceptable,' said Sadleir. Landmark court-ordered measures Sadleir said it became clear through the course of litigation that some of their demands extended beyond Meta's current technical infrastructure. The company has now agreed, through a court-sanctioned joint consent order, to take the following steps: Permanently remove, as far as is technically feasible, all Instagram accounts and WhatsApp channels reported by us on behalf of victims, thereby cutting off public access to this deeply harmful material. Disclose subscriber information of more than 60 offending accounts across both platforms, enabling victims and their families to pursue justice through appropriate legal avenues. Establish a direct two-year hotline between The Digital Law Co and Meta, to fast-track urgent child protection matters and ensure that future reports do not fall through the cracks. 'This is a powerful affirmation of what can be achieved when the law is used not only as a shield, but as a sword in defence of the most vulnerable among us. We believe this is the first time in South African legal history that a global tech giant has agreed, in writing and in court, to these kinds of terms — and we hope it signals a turning point in how platforms respond to harm within our jurisdiction. Importantly, it also acknowledges that tech companies operating in South Africa must do so in line with South African laws, South African court orders, and South African standards of dignity and child protection,' said Sadleir. She added that the identifying information was with forensic teams, and once they found out who was behind the accounts, criminal charges would be laid, even if the culprits are found to be underage. 'Children have full criminal capacity in South Africa from 14, arguable from 12, so we'll make criminal charges, definitely criminal injuria, distribution of private sexual images, non-consensual distribution of intimate images, child pornography offences — so the solicitation, distribution and possession of child pornography,' she said. Beyond criminal prosecution, there was a civil dimension where victims could seek damages. Additionally, schools would be notified to consider disciplinary action, including expulsions, said Sadleir. What does the law say? In South Africa, social media content involving children is regulated by laws aimed at protecting minors from exploitation and harm. Key legislation includes the Films and Publications Act and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, which criminalise the creation, possession and distribution of sexually explicit material involving minors. Platforms operating in South Africa must comply with court orders and laws to remove harmful content and provide subscriber information to support prosecutions. Victims can also pursue civil claims for damages, and schools can take safeguarding actions such as expulsions. Despite these measures, enforcement is challenged by technological limits, weak moderation, and complex reporting procedures. Ephraim Tlhako, acting CEO of the Films and Publications Board, said the prevalence of harmful content was significant. 'Between April 2024 and March 2025, we handled 20 cases involving child sexual abuse material. While 20 cases might seem small over 12 months, the volume is staggering; we analysed approximately 200,000 images and videos. Since April 2025, we've processed five cases containing more than one million images,' he said. Despite ongoing efforts, the Films and Publications Board struggled with limited financial and human resources, which restricted its ability to deploy advanced technologies like AI for faster detection and removal of harmful content. Currently, it relied heavily on complaints and law enforcement referrals, said Tlhako. Collaboration with social media platforms and internet service providers remained crucial, and the Films and Publications Board routinely issued takedown notices under section 77 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act to promptly remove illegal content, especially child sexual abuse material. Last year, about 17 such notices were issued and mostly complied with. However, compliance could be challenging when platform community guidelines conflicted with the board's classification standards, said Tlhako. Parental vigilance crucial to protecting children online On protecting children, Sadleir emphasised parental vigilance. 'Parents need to be actively involved and know what their children are doing online. Phone use at night is a huge risk; a lot of this content was being shared after midnight, when kids should be sleeping or studying,' she said. Sadleir flagged WhatsApp channels as especially dangerous. 'Unlike traditional WhatsApp chats, channels allow for the mass broadcast of content without followers needing to engage or be visible. They attract tens of thousands of views quickly, with no moderation and no accountability. Worse, if a channel owner deletes the channel, the content remains on all recipients' devices indefinitely,' she said. Reporting these channels was complicated, as there was no proper escalation or categorisation of reports on these channels. 'You just click 'report', and the platform gives no transparency on how seriously they treat things like child sexual abuse material versus less urgent reports,' she said. For parents, Tlhako advised practical protective measures. 'There are technologies and applications you can install on your child's devices to monitor activity and set age restrictions. For example, a nine-year-old can only download apps or games meant for that age, and if they want something beyond that, it requires parental approval.' He also noted how device manufacturers were incorporating 'safety by design' features, but warned that if parents didn't properly set up the devices, children could have unrestricted access. The Films and Publications Board facilitates reporting not only for law enforcement, but also the public through its WhatsApp Hotline (083 428 4767), the Films and Publications Board hotline (0800 148 148), and an online complaints portal. Other suggestions on how parents can protect their children from harmful content on social media include: Stay actively involved in your child's online activities. Monitor device usage, especially during late hours. Set parental controls and age restrictions on devices. Use monitoring apps to track screen time and chats. Educate children about online safety and risks. Encourage reporting of suspicious or harmful content. Be cautious with WhatsApp channels and broadcast features. Regularly review your child's social media contacts. Teach privacy settings, blocking, and reporting tools. Maintain communication with schools and the community for vigilance. Meta's response and safety enhancements The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies welcomed the recent ruling. Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele remarked that it confirmed his earlier statements during the department's recent budget vote on the dangers of child sexual abuse material. He further urged parents and guardians to regularly monitor their children's online activities and educate them about harmful and prohibited content. Meta announced on 23 July 2025 new safety enhancements for Instagram aimed at protecting teens and children, including enhanced controls for teen accounts and stricter settings for adult-managed accounts featuring minors. Teens will now see the account creation date in DMs, receive safety tips, and have a combined block-and-report button for suspicious users, building on existing safety notices that led to more than one million blocks and reports in June. A new location notice alerts teens if their chat partner is in another country, to combat sextortion. The nudity protection feature, which blurs suspected nude images by default, remains enabled by 99% of teens, reducing unwanted exposure and sharing. For adults managing accounts for children under 13, Meta applies the strictest message settings, enables Hidden Words to block offensive comments, and limits these accounts' visibility to suspicious adults by removing them from searches, and hiding comments. Earlier this year, Meta removed nearly 135,000 Instagram accounts linked to sexualised comments or image solicitation on child-managed accounts, along with 500,000 related Facebook and Instagram accounts. DM
The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
Malema dismisses Kunene's defence over Molefe as ‘pure lie'
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has rubbished claims by Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy leader Kenny Kunene, saying his explanation for being at the home of murder suspect Katiso 'KT' Molefe is a 'pure lie.' Speaking during a press briefing in Cape Town on Thursday ahead of the EFF's 12th anniversary, Malema dismissed Kunene's version of events, including his claim that he didn't know Molefe, the businessman accused of involvement in DJ Sumbody's killing. Malema said Kenny Kunene's version of events did not make sense. 'Kenny's story is not coming together,' he said. 'It's a pure lie. And that's how thugs 26, 28 gangs succeed. They lie, they think they can outsmart everyone. They are just lying and they don't care whether you are convinced or not.' Malema questioned Kunene's claim that he took a journalist to Molefe's house for an interview. He found it suspicious and unprofessional that an official would involve a journalist in a meeting with someone facing serious charges. 'Taking a journalist is not a secret operation. Who's that journalist? Why would you take a journalist to someone who just came out of prison, who's on bail, as an MMC?' Malema asked. He said he felt vindicated when he first heard that police had caught Kunene at Molefe's home. 'I'm very happy, you know. I danced even at night. Things are looking good. We told you these people are criminals. They are nothing else but mapantinti,' he said, using a slang term referring to criminals. Malema confirmed he knew Molefe, but only as a public figure, not personally. 'I know that guy. Not from a personal point of view. He's a well-known businessman. Until now, we knew him as a businessman.' He compared that limited knowledge with how close Kunene allegedly is to Molefe. 'I don't have a relationship with him like that. I can't call Patrice Motsepe or go to his house and take my wife there. Patrice Motsepe's wife knows my wife. I don't know a guy like Molefe in that way.' Malema insisted Kunene was lying when he said he didn't know Molefe. 'For Kenny to behave like that in public office and say he doesn't know that guy, that's a lie.' This statement from Malema came after Kenny Kunene was seen at the home of Katiso 'KT' Molefe during a police raid. Kunene's presence at the residence of the murder suspect sparked controversy and raised questions about his relationship with Molefe, leading to widespread scrutiny and calls for clarification. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
