Proceedings in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial will resume this morning at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, with continued cross-examination of lead investigator Brigadier Bongani Gininda by advocate Charles Mnisi, who represents accused number one, Muzi Sibiya.
What to expect from the Senzo Meyiwa trial today
Tensions were high in court on Wednesday after a heated exchange between the defence, the State, and the presiding judge over what information could be discussed in open court.
Mnisi’s questioning focused on a memorandum Gininda submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in 2020, which led to the decision to prosecute the five accused.
Mnisi argued that the contents of the memorandum were crucial for understanding why the State proceeded with indictments against his client and the other accused. He insisted that the accused have the right to know the basis upon which they were charged.
However, state prosecutor Advocate George Baloyi objected, stating that the content of the memorandum was privileged and not open for discussion during cross-examination.
He emphasised that the information used to obtain arrest warrants had already been included in Gininda’s affidavit, which forms part of the official court record.
Despite Mnisi’s insistence that the information was relevant and not secret, the judge ruled that the memorandum, and Gininda’s conversations with senior NPA officials such as Shamila Batohi, were legally protected under privilege. Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng cited legal precedent to support his decision and advised Mnisi to appeal the ruling if he disagreed.
The courtroom confrontation led Mnisi to threaten a halt to his cross-examination, stating that he would not proceed without access to the memorandum.
Nonetheless, the judge stood firm, making it clear that legal process must be followed, and privileged communications could not be disclosed in court.
Today, Mnisi is expected to either continue with his line of questioning within the boundaries set by the court or shift focus to other aspects of the investigation involving his client.
The trial is likely to revisit evidence already on record, including witness testimonies, confessions, and investigative summaries that led to the arrests of the accused.
The trial remains a focal point of national interest, involving five men accused of murdering the former Bafana Bafana captain, Senzo Meyiwa, during an alleged home invasion in Vosloorus on 26 October 2014.
All accused have pleaded not guilty, and the case has faced numerous delays and legal challenges since its inception.
Watch the Senzo Meyiwa trial live here
The live feed of the trial will be up as soon as possible. Bookmark this page and refresh 15 minutes before proceedings kick off at 10:00.
The case involves five accused—Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, Mthobisi Mncube, and Fisokuhle Ntuli—charged with the murder of Senzo Meyiwa, who was shot dead on 26 October 2014.
The accused have all pleaded not guilty, and the trial, which restarted in 2023, continues to explore witness testimonies, forensic evidence, and procedural questions that have shaped public perception and legal debate around the case.
