Kathorus MAIL followed up on the developments around the murder case of the late former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa, during the Police Minister Bheki Cele’s visit to Katlehong on August 31.
Cele told the MAIL that investigations are still ongoing.
He explained that there was an investigation and people were arrested. The people arrested went to court and the court said the suspects will appear again next month.
“They went to court, applied for bail and they did not appear for the bail hearing and now they are inside. The court said the suspects will be trialled in October,” said Cele.
When asked about new developments about the so-called mastermind behind Meyiwa’s murder, who was said to have not been arrested, he emphasised that investigations are still going on.
“Investigations are ongoing, we are not going to find the mastermind on the road. So allow the police to investigate,” he added.
“We have about five people who have been arrested, if you know the mastermind, help us to find him or her because, at present, we have people who must answer on the death of Senzo Meyiwa,” he concluded.
Will the Senzo Meyiwa murder case ever be solved?
The former goalkeeper was gunned down under mysterious circumstances in the presence of his girlfriend, musician Kelly Khumalo inside her mother’s home in Mzamo Acres at Vosloorus, on the night of October 26, 2014.
With him in the house that evening was Kelly, her sister, Zandile, and her mother, Gladness, Longwe Twala (Chicco Twala’s son) and Meyiwa’s childhood friend from Durban Tumelo Madlala.
It has been seven years since Meyiwa’s mysterious shooting and the snail-paced police investigations into his murder.
Six years into the investigation, on October 26, 2020, five suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of Meyiwa. The arrest was on the same date the Bafana Bafana star was murdered six years ago.
Former Senzo Meyiwa murder accused sends condolences
The five suspects Muzikawulahlelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokosizi Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Ntuli are facing charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Their first court appearance was on October 27, 2020, at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court. During the first appearance, they refused to enter the dock as they insisted they were innocent.
They reappeared on November 27, 2020, escorted by tight security to the court. During the court proceedings, the suspects insisted on addressing the court, before the magistrate said the proceedings were not a press conference and added they were risking being in contempt of court.
However, accused number three, Mncube, spoke over the magistrate and maintained their innocence. He said they were being used as scapegoats while Chicco Twala’s son, Longwe, was a free man.
The case was postponed to March 5, 2021, for further investigation.
WATCH: Senzo Meyiwa murder case postponed to March 2021
AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit (PPU) represents the Meyiwa family against the five suspects.
Advocate Gerrie Nel, head of the PPU, expressed his disappointment with the NPA’s failure to act against the mastermind. He was addressing Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns fans who were picketing outside the court.
AfriForum said the case was transferred to the Palm Ridge High Court and will continue on July 19, 2021, with pre-trial proceedings, in a statement published on the website.
But a lot transpired before the arrest of the suspect last year.
According to those present during that fateful night, Meyiwa was shot during a scuffle between him and one of the three armed robbers.
His alleged killer was later identified as a local Rastafarian car washer, Zamokuhle Mbatha.
‘Arrest Senzo’s killers and help me’ – Mbatha
In 2014, Mbatha, a Vosloorus-based man who lives in the same neighbourhood as the Khumalo family, was the first suspect to be arrested and detained for the murder of Senzo Meyiwa. He was later released after the case was struck off the court roll by the magistrate at the Boksburg courts.
In 2015, Joyce Buthelezi, who was assigned to investigate the murder, resigned following a disagreement with her SAPS seniors at a meeting at the SAPS headquarters in Pretoria.
This followed her recommendation to arrest those who were at the Khumalo home not being considered.
The trial date is set for October 25, 2021.
Read a full story in this week’s Kathorus Mail edition.
