Orlando Pirates fan Kefentse Tshounyane says he has been attending the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial in the Pretoria high court since it started in April 2022, missing only one day when he was not well.
Working as a driver, he drops off his employer’s child at school every weekday and then attends the trial for a few hours.
“I am a Pirates fan — he was our goalkeeper and also a national goalkeeper. Senzo’s death touched us a lot,” Tshounyane told the Sunday Times.
“I am here to support Meyiwa’s family, even though they don’t know me, but spiritually I am with them. The reason I am here, I just want to see justice being served. We want to know the truth about what happened to our Senzo.”
However, he is not convinced the court is any closer to finding out what happened to Meyiwa.
“Based on all the witness testimonies ... they contradict each other. I don’t understand how we can be in the same place but see different things. To me, they must just tell the truth, simple as that, and save everyone’s time,” he said.
Agness Ngobese, a pensioner from Saulsville in Pretoria, decided to join the proceedings this year and travels to court by bus every day.
The 70-year-old, who hails from Durban, the slain footballer’s home turf, said she would not miss a day in court until “they find the killer — they must find the one who pulled the trigger”.
A third-year Unisa law student has for the past week been catching a train from Garankuwa, northwest of Pretoria, to attend the trial.
“I think this one is a big trial so it will be recorded somewhere. I might need it in future, maybe refer to it,” said Clement Mogape, who has been studying the law of evidence.
Siyabonga Magadlela has been following the case from home, but on Thursday he decided to use his two-day leave to go to court to witness the proceedings.
I came because I want to see the witnesses, so that I can see if they are telling this court the truth or not
— Siyabonga Magadlela
“This case is also about the public because we have lost one of our legends. We are looking forward to hearing what exactly happened to Senzo. I came because I want to see the witnesses, so that I can see if they are telling this court the truth or not. It will be up to us to judge them,” Magadlela said.
Five men — Mthobisi Mncube, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli — are on trial for Meyiwa’s murder in Vosloosrus on Gauteng’s East Rand at his then girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s family home in October 2014.
This past week began with state witness Sgt Moses Mabasa, a cellphone data analyst, presenting evidence of pictures downloaded from Mncube’s phone, including images of a rifle, 9mm pistols, ammunition, an axe, a panga and stacks of cash.
After Mabasa’s testimony, Meyiwa’s childhood friend Mthokozisi Thwala took the stand to testify about what happened that night. He was visibly emotional as he described how his friend took his last breath at Botshelong hospital.
“I could see while sitting with him ... I took his hand but he just let go, it was limp, and he was no longer gasping. You could see it was his soul leaving” said Thwala.
He also testified that the police tortured him to try and get him to confess to murdering the footballer.
Last week, the court heard evidence linking phone calls between Khumalo and some of the accused.
The trial continues.
