I’ve now placed my hopes on Cele

Meyiwa was shot and killed in mysterious circumstances at the home of singer Kelly Khumalo in Mzamo Acres, Vosloorus, on the evening of October 26, 2014.

Initial claims of Meyiwa’s death being the result of a robbery gone wrong were recently disputed in a series of damning social media posts fingering one of the people present in the house that night as the person who pulled the trigger of the gun that killed the former Pirates star.

Mbatha explained that he feels the new police minister is the only senior official who has the power to turn the direction of the investigation to solve Meyiwa’s murder case.

Mbatha described how soon after his arrest he spent several days in police detention being questioned by crime detectives about a murder he knew nothing about.

“To this day no single day passes without me thinking about Senzo’s murder and how my name was dragged into it. But I still believe a solution to the murder will one day be found and the person or people responsible will be brought to book,” lamented Mbatha.

“My name was dragged in the mud and I was openly branded a murderer, and when the police could not prove their case again me they dumped me and left me to deal with the trauma on my own”, cried an angry Mbatha.

“I dream of this whole dark episode of my life almost every second day or so. I also live with the fear of being attacked by Senzo’s fans, some of whom may still believe I was let out of the loop by mistake by the courts,” he explained.

Mbatha, who said he believes Cele is now the only high-ranking official who can pursue the four-year-old murder case with the determination and vigour it requires to yield results.

Mbatha claimed that although he was not there that tragic night, he still continues to be haunted by the mystery of events that unfolded that evening.

“What was it that made the police link my identity to that of the person who killed Senzo? It was, in fact, quite known and popular in the area as I was the only known person with dreadlocks,” explained Mbatha who also described himself as an Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana fan.

“I used to wash his car sometimes when he came to visit Kelly. But to find myself in a prison cell for murdering him was the most absurd experience I’ll ever forget,” he said.

Citing the barrage of social media posts that made damning allegations against a prominent music personality and his son, Mbatha said he believes the key to resolving the murder was already in the hands of the police.

“All they have to do now it is to turn it and open the door to the mystery that will lead them to the killer or killers of Senzo Meyiwa.”

He said he feels let down the hopes raised by previous police minister Fikile Mbalula, that the arrest of Meyiwa’s killers was imminent.

“He really got my emotions worked up and I thought any minute now my name would be cleared and the culprits would be behind bars to face the music. But alas his words sadly came to nothing”, cried Mbatha.

The unemployed odd-job man confirmed that he is also suing the SAPS for R10-million following his arrest.

“My lawyers are dealing with that aspect of the case and I am being constantly briefed by them about progress in that regard,” explained Mbatha.

Meanwhile, Meyiwa’s father, Sam Meyiwa, speaking to a Sunday coastal newspaper recently, said he was “hopeful that his son’s killer or killers would be found”. He told the newspaper that he “had mixed feelings about the news because fired police minister Fikile Mbalula had been trustworthy”.

“I was a bit shocked at his sudden removal but at the same time I feel like my prayers have been answered. I have no doubt Cele will do a good job in getting the murderers behind bars. It was evident during his stint as a national commissioner that he was dedicated to fighting crime,” Sam said.