Cross-examinations intensify in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial as first accused faces tough questions
The murder trial of Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa continued this week at the Pretoria High Court, where the first accused, Muzi Sibiya, faced intense cross-examination from multiple defence lawyers representing his co-accused.
Advocate Sipho Ramosepele, appearing for the second accused, Bongani Ntanzi, began his questioning on Thursday by probing Sibiya’s knowledge of his co-accused and the circumstances surrounding his arrest. Sibiya insisted that he had no prior knowledge that he would be appearing in court with the others when he was brought before the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court in 2020.
“I did not know. The first time I saw them was when we were coming from the cells. I was not informed that I would be appearing with others,” he explained.
When asked how he reacted upon seeing them, Sibiya said, “I was amazed.”
Ramosepele pressed further, asking Sibiya to confirm whether he knew Ntanzi, Maphisa, and Ntuli before that court appearance.
“Correct,” Sibiya replied, adding that he had known Ntanzi “from back home for a while”, though they were not close friends. “He is from a different village, and he is not my friend. He is much younger than me,” he said.
Sibiya told the court that while Ntanzi knew his younger brother, Gwabeni, the two were not personally in contact. “I am the brother to Gwabeni,” he clarified, adding that he had no communication with Ntanzi in 2014 and did not have his phone number saved at the time.
The advocate then turned to the matter of Sibiya’s arrest. Sibiya told the court that police never showed him a warrant of arrest, nor did they inform him of the reasons for his detention.
“No, I never had sight of it. They never showed me, they did not read it out to me. Nor was I informed why I was arrested for the drugs that were not there,” he said.
Sibiya alleged that he was assaulted by police officers who demanded that he tell them what he knew about Meyiwa’s death.
“They just assaulted me and asked what I knew about the death of Senzo Meyiwa,” he stated.
He further claimed that his cellphones were confiscated during his arrest and that he only saw one of them again on 31 May 2020, when a police officer asked him to unlock it. “After that, I never saw it again,” he said.
Sibiya also identified one of the officers involved as a Metro Police officer named Sadiki, alleging that he participated in the assault.
“He also participated in the assault, even when they covered my face with plastic. They were taking turns, even kicking me,” Sibiya said.
Judge questions accused’s version of events
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng questioned some aspects of Sibiya’s version of events, particularly his claim that the police did not offer him food or water when they drove him to his family home in June 2020.
According to Sibiya, he was tortured so severely during interrogation that he lost control of his bladder. He also testified that his clothes were confiscated by an officer named Mabena.
During questioning, Advocate Ramosepele asked about the controversial mention of singer Kelly Khumalo’s name during police interrogations.
“In your evidence, when did the name Kelly Khumalo come to the fore in your interaction with police?”
“I think I first heard the name in Tembisa,” Sibiya responded, adding that officers told him there had been an agreement with Khumalo to kill Meyiwa.
When asked whether he knew the singer personally, he said, “I do not know her.”
Judge Mokgoatlheng then questioned Sibiya’s claim of being deprived of food during the alleged trip.
“You do not have to answer it if you do not want to,” the judge said. “But here is this guy called Gininda, who has mishandled you. And then suddenly he offers to take you to go and see your parents… and you drive back to Gauteng again, 16 hours with no food or drink?”
The judge said he found this aspect difficult to reconcile.
Fourth accused’s lawyer joins cross-examination
The cross-examination resumed on Friday, with Advocate Zithulele Nxumalo, representing the fourth accused, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, taking over. Nxumalo questioned Sibiya about his communication with Maphisa between June 2018 and February 2020.
“Yes, I was in contact with Maphisa during that time,” Sibiya said. “Even though I don’t know his number by heart, I do admit that I used to communicate with him.”
Sibiya explained that he would “call him to check if he was fine” and would make random calls using whichever phone number had airtime.
Earlier in the week, Sibiya testified that he knew three of his co-accused — Ntanzi, Maphisa, and Ntuli — before the trial.
“Ntanzi is from a village closer to mine in KwaZulu-Natal. Maphisa is from a village where my mother was born, so I would see him from time to time when I visited my mom’s family. Ntuli and I are related. My mother is from the Ntuli surname. Ntuli calls my mother an aunt, even though they’re not from the same house,” he said.
When Nxumalo asked if their conversations had ever involved Meyiwa’s murder, Sibiya firmly denied it.
“No, I never spoke about the death of the deceased because I do not even know this person. I know nothing about his death,” he said.
Sibiya also denied claims that he had been with state witness Constable Sizwe Zungu in 2014, saying he only met him in 2019.
“The allegations that we were with him in 2014 are not true. I never told him about Meyiwa being dead,” Sibiya said.
After Nxumalo concluded his cross-examination, Advocate Zandile Mshololo, representing the fifth accused, applied to begin her questioning on Monday. The state, represented by Advocate George Baloyi, did not object, noting that Mshololo had been unavailable earlier in the week.
The trial continues.
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