The trial of the five men accused of murdering former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa is set to resume at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on 17 July. This trial has been postponed due to the presiding judge’s illness and suspension.
The Postponement of the Trial
On 12 June, Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela fell ill, causing the trial’s first delay. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that the judge would be unavailable for an extended period. Due to the judge’s unavailability, Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba declared that the trial must proceed. The case was further complicated when President Cyril Ramaphosa suspended Judge Maumela and Judge Nomonde Mngqibisa-Thusi on 28 June for failure to deliver judgements in a timely manner. The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) now seeks to appoint a tribunal for each judge.
The Ramifications of the Postponement
Legal expert Mpumelelo Zikalala believes that witnesses who had previously testified in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial may be called back due to the trial’s postponement. Among those who had already testified are police Sergeants Thabo Mosia and Patrick Mthethwa, as well as Meyiwa’s friends Tumelo Madlala and Mthokozisi Thwala. With Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng recently appointed to preside over the case, the trial is expected to start anew.
The Incident and the Accused
The tragic event at the center of the trial took place on 26 October 2014, when Meyiwa was fatally shot at the home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo, in Vosloorus, Gauteng. The incident was initially reported as a botched robbery. Now, five men stand trial for the murder of the beloved soccer star: Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, and Fisokuhle Nkani Ntuli. The accused face charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances, possession of firearms without a license, and possession of ammunition. All five men have pleaded not guilty.
The resumption of the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial marks a crucial step in the pursuit of justice for the late soccer star, whose untimely death shocked the nation. With a new judge presiding over the case and the possibility of witnesses returning to the stand, the trial’s progression will undoubtedly be closely monitored by the South African public. As the legal process unfolds, the quest for truth and closure in this high-profile case will continue to captivate the nation’s attention.
