Senzo Meyiwa trial: Judge rules that witness audio may be broadcast

The murder trial of Senzo Meyiwa resumed on Thursday at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, amid much drama.

First, controversial disbarred advocate Malesela Teffo appeared before Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela, saying he represents a Sifiso Meyiwa.

Maumela protested, saying there was no Sifiso Meyiwa part of the trial, but the persistent, disbarred advocate continued to speak over the judge.

The judge then ordered court orderlies to remove Teffo from the proceedings, saying he must not be allowed to come back.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Disbarred advocate Teffo shows up in court, claims to represent Sifiso Meyiwa

Witness ruling

Maumela then delivered a lengthy ruling on the state’s application to prevent the media from live broadcasting their upcoming witness’s testimony.

The judge ordered that while broadcasting of the witness’s image would not be permitted, media are allowed to broadcast audio of her testimony.

State Advocate George Baloyi, on Tuesday, told the court that its witness was reluctant to testify while the trial was being broadcast live due to concerns about her personal safety.

But defence lawyers for the five accused fiercely opposed the application saying the witness was already a public figure who had posted content on her social media accounts and appeared on a Netflix documentary about the ongoing murder trial, opening her to public scrutiny.

ALSO READ: Senzo Meyiwa trial: Witness denies lovers spat between Longwe Twala and Zandi Khumalo

In handing down his judgment, Maumela acknowledged the court didn’t grant anonymity to other witnesses who had testified.

But, Maumela also noted that witnesses needed protection from the court to ensure that they live to testify another day.

“Failure to do so is counterproductive because witnesses will in future have to weigh the dangers of testifying in court,” Maumela said.

The court has in the past placed restrictions on some witness testimony, which prohibits the press from showing the witness’s face but allows the audio to be live-streamed.

“Witness number one’s face and voice are already out in the public where she spoke about the trial. However, the unnamed witness said this was to preserve her integrity,” said Maumela.

In the end, Maumela found that witness number one had not provided a compelling case to prohibit the media entirely from covering her testimony.

Meyiwa was murdered at the family home of his former lover and musician, Kelly Khumalo, in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg, in October 2014.

Khumalo and Meyiwa, who were having an affair at the time, were at her house with her mother Ntombi, sister Zandi, Zandi’s boyfriend at the time – Longwe Twala – and Senzo’s friends, Mthokozisi Thwala and Tumelo Madlala.

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

NOW READ: Witness in Meyiwa trial raises objection to live media broadcast of proceedings