The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial resumes today, Wednesday, 4 June 2025, at the Pretoria High Court, with the defence continuing its cross-examination of police Brigadier Bongani Gininda.
What to expect from the Senzo Meyiwa trial today
Advocate Charles Mnisi, who represents accused number one, Muzi Sibiya, is expected to press further on the circumstances surrounding his client’s arrest and alleged mistreatment while in police custody.
On Tuesday, Mnisi alleged in court that Sibiya was blindfolded and severely assaulted by police officers during his arrest in 2020. He stated that his client was kicked while lying on the floor, unable to see who was attacking him due to a plastic blindfold placed over his eyes.
Mnisi made it clear that the blindfold made it impossible for Sibiya to identify the officers responsible, raising serious concerns about the handling of the arrest and potential violations of Sibiya’s rights.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng questioned whether specific officers, including female Sergeant Magola, were involved in the alleged assault. Mnisi responded that due to the blindfold, his client could not determine who exactly had assaulted him.
Brigadier Gininda, the lead investigator, denied any knowledge of the assault. He clarified that he was not present during the alleged incident and received no report indicating that Sibiya had been harmed.
He added that the accused showed no visible signs of injury and did not report any mistreatment to him directly. Gininda also claimed that police attempted to take Sibiya to a doctor after complaints arose, but that Sibiya refused medical examination.
Earlier in the session, Mnisi challenged Gininda on why he did not take down Sibiya’s statement himself, especially given that he had three hours between being notified of the alleged confession and actually meeting Sibiya. Gininda responded that while he was legally permitted to record the statement, he opted to have it handled by someone neutral, in line with what he referred to as “best practice.”
He explained that having an officer not involved in the investigation record the confession was a method used to ensure objectivity and credibility.
The issue of missing Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) data for the police vehicles involved in Sibiya’s arrest remains a key point for the defence. Mnisi maintains that without this data, it is difficult to verify the exact circumstances of Sibiya’s arrest and the route taken during his transport.
Watch the Senzo Meyiwa trial live here
Today’s court proceedings can be streamed below: