Senzo Meyiwa murder trial: One of the accused denied bail

The Pretoria High Court on Friday denied bail to Bongani Ntanzi, one of the five men accused of killing South African soccer star Senzo Meyiwa in 2014.

The court ruled that Ntanzi failed to prove exceptional circumstances or that it would be in the interest of justice to grant him bail.

Ntanzi has been charged with premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of firearms without a licence and possession of ammunition.

Gauteng deputy judge president Aubrey Ledwaba said that the onus was on Ntanzi to prove that he was still eligible for bail.

He stated that Ntanzi failed to explain why he was only bringing his bail application now, more than two years after his arrest.

Ntanzi also stated that his family relied on him as a sole breadwinner.

Ledwaba, however, said Ntanzi did not state the amount of money he has in his bank account, nor did he ask his attorney to help unfreeze his accounts.

“There is no evidence that he will be re-employed or find another job if he is released,” he said.

Suspension of judges

Meanwhile, earlier on Friday the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) called upon President Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend two judges, one being Tshifhiwa Maumela, who was presiding over the Meyiwa murder trial.

Pending an outcome of a tribunal inquiry, the JSC has recommended that judges Maumela and Judge Nomonde Mngqibisa-Thusi be suspended for their failure to deliver numerous reserved judgments.

Cold case

The legendary goalkeeper, Meyiwa, was killed in 2014 at the home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo, in Vosloorus, during an alleged house robbery.

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According to the police, it was alleged that two suspects entered the house and confronted the occupants while a third suspect was outside. A shot was fired, and Meyiwa was hit in the upper body. He was immediately taken to hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

His alleged killers were only arrested six years later in 2020. Five of them were arrested in October. Ntanzi is accused number two.

*Additional reporting by Cornelia Le Roux