Almost eight years after soccer star Senzo Meyiwa was murdered, the trial of the five men accused of killing him will start in the high court in Pretoria tomorrow.
Fans are hoping for answers to some of the questions that have persisted since the Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper was shot in an apparent botched house robbery at the Vosloorus home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, in 2014.
Also there that day were Khumalo, her mother Ntombi, her sister Zandi, Zandi’s boyfriend Longwe Twala, and Meyiwa's friends Mthokozisi Twala and Tumelo Madlala.
Kelly's two children — one aged four and the other, of whom Meyiwa was the father, just seven months — were also present.
The five suspects — Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli — were arrested in October 2020, six years after Meyiwa’s death.
They are charged with premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of firearms without a licence and possession of ammunition. In court on Friday, they pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
Prosecutor George Baloyi told the court one of the witnesses he planned to call would testify that the barrel of the murder weapon had been against Meyiwa's chest when the fatal shot was fired.
“The chest wound is consistent with a contact bullet entrance wound. The wound at the back is consistent with the exit back wound with a downward trajectory,” Baloyi said.
He said the ballistics expert would testify that the shooter was probably in front of Meyiwa when he pulled the trigger.
“They were all watching TV in the lounge, enjoying themselves at the house when the attackers struck in the evening, demanding cellphones and money,” Baloyi said.
Meyiwa was killed in the kitchen. “He was rushed in his own car, driven by Kelly Khumalo, to the nearby hospital in Botshelong where he was declared dead on arrival.”
According to the charge sheet, two people entered the house armed with a firearm and knife at about 8pm on October 26 2014. They demanded money and cellphones.
The bullet went through his chest and exited at his back ... This was a contact shot
— Charge sheet
“A scuffle ensued between Meyiwa and the person armed with a firearm, who had dreadlocks, a gold slit on one of the teeth and was wearing a khaki-coloured jacket. A shot was discharged, hitting the floor and splinters struck Zandi on the right ankle.
“A second shot went off and Meyiwa was then shot once in the chest while in a standing position and the bullet went through his chest, body and exited at his back and it hit the back of the door that Meyiwa was standing against. This was a contact shot.”
Three shots were discharged in total, according to the indictment.
Baloyi said the state had about 15 witnesses to call, including police officers who responded to the scene, pathologists, neighbours and ballistics experts.
The case was postponed to tomorrow after Baloyi said there was not enough time left on Friday for his first witness to begin giving evidence.
The court heard that Mncube claimed to have been assaulted and tortured several times while behind bars. His advocate, Malesela Teffo, said the most recent assault occurred last week, allegedly at the hands of a prison warder.
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