Senzo Meyiwa trial: An ‘eye-catching altercation’ trips up proceedings

The murder trial of slain soccer star Senzo Meyiwa got off to a rather confusing start, as the defence advocate, judge and witness debated about the meaning of the word “altercation”.

Defence Advocate Charles Mnisi, representing Mthobisi Prince Mncube [accused number 3], was grilling witness Mthokozisi Thwala, who was one of seven people present when the Bafana Bafana captain was shot in an apparent robbery gone wrong.

Meyiwa was shot dead in the family home of his then-lover and musician, Kelly Khumalo, in Vosloorus, in 2014.

Khumalo, her mother Ntombi, sister Zandi, Zandi’s boyfriend at the time – Longwe Twala – and Senzo’s friends – Thwala and Tumelo Madlala – were in the house at the time of the murder.

Five suspects; Bongani Ntanzi, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Ncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Ntuli are on trial for Meyiwa’s murder.

Altercation vs eye-catching

Mnisi was going over the details of the scuffle that took place between the late soccer star and a gun-wielding intruder.

But Thwala’s version faltered slightly under Mnisi’s intense grilling. The language barrier became apparent when the witness and, at times, the judge battled to identify the difference between the word “altercation” and “eye-catching”.

Mnisi had asked Thwala if the scuffle/wrestling/altercation between Meyiwa and the gun-wielding intruder with dreadlocks was the most “eye-catching” or defining moment of the night.

Thwala could not answer, saying his attention was focused on his phone.

Thwala also changed his version during the grilling, saying the second suspect was involved in the tussle with Meyiwa and the deadlock intruder.

Mnisi pointed out that Thwala had never, in his previous statements, mentioned the altercation involving the second suspect, to which the witness said, “I wouldn’t say that I saw it”.

Mnisi then put it to Thwala that he had been fabricating his testimony to suit a particular narrative about the way in which Meyiwa was killed. Thwala denied this.

Before the court adjourned for tea, Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela asked the state to clarify the meaning of the word “altercation” for everyone to understand the meaning of the word going forward.

The trial continues.

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