The murder trial of former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa resumes at the Pretoria High Court today, with proceedings set to address two critical issues: the state’s plan to call a dentist to testify and newly presented video footage that challenges earlier claims in the case.
What to expect from the Senzo Meyiwa trial today
State prosecutor Advocate George Baloyi told the court on Wednesday that the prosecution intends to introduce testimony from a dentist who examined accused number three, Mthobisi Mncube.
This follows recent evidence submitted by the state, which includes a photograph allegedly showing Mncube with a gold tooth—an identifier that matches witness descriptions of one of the assailants in the October 2014 incident.
However, this plan has sparked opposition from the defence. Advocate Charles Mnisi, representing Mncube, argued that the dentist, Dr Ali, was not originally listed as a state witness.
He contends that introducing the dentist at this stage is procedurally flawed, as the defence—not the state—initiated the dental examination to dispute the image’s authenticity and the allegation that Mncube had a gold tooth at the time of the murder.
Mnisi highlighted that the prosecution has had access to the photographic evidence for years but failed to disclose its intended use earlier in the trial. He maintains that the defence only sought Dr Ali’s services after Mncube expressed distrust in state proceedings, citing several unresolved concerns in the ongoing case.
Meanwhile, the state’s presentation of a video allegedly showing Longwe Twala, who was present at the Khumalo home the night Meyiwa was killed, has raised further questions.
Twala is seen walking uninjured in the footage taken the day after the incident. This contradicts a theory introduced by the late advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, which claimed Twala accidentally shot himself in the foot during the altercation that led to Meyiwa’s death.
Brigadier Bongani Gininda, the lead investigator, confirmed the identity of Twala and Zandi Khumalo in the footage. He also pointed out that the vehicle seen in the video—a grey BMW X6—belonged to the late Meyiwa.
According to Gininda, the video undermines the claim that Twala had suffered a gunshot wound, given his apparent ease of movement and the absence of any medical evidence to support the injury claim.
Defence advocate Sipho Ramosepele, representing accused number two, criticised the state’s reliance on video evidence while Twala himself has not testified.
“We do not know Longwe Twala personally, and the court cannot identify him either,” Ramosepele said.
He added that Twala’s continued absence as a witness raises questions, especially as he is still alive and could clarify the claims under oath.
The court will also revisit the dispute over whether the defence is allowed to use Dr Ali’s testimony, as well as consider the implications of the video evidence on the state’s narrative of events on the night Meyiwa was killed.
Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead on 26 October 2014 at the Vosloorus home of his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s mother. Five men have been charged with his murder and all have pleaded not guilty.
The trial, now in its third year, continues to examine new and old evidence presented by both the state and defence.
Watch the Senzo Meyiwa trial live here
As the trial resumes, the court is expected to deliberate on the admissibility of the dentist’s testimony and assess the impact of the video footage allegedly showing Longwe Twala uninjured the day after Meyiwa’s death.
Tune into the live proceedings below: