The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial resumes today at the High Court in Pretoria, with accused number one, Muzi Sibiya, expected to continue his testimony.
The hearing follows a tense week in which Sibiya faced extensive questioning over his alleged confession and claims of assault during his arrest in 2020.
Sibiya has distanced himself from the 2014 murder of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa, who was shot dead at the Vosloorus home of his then-girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo, east of Johannesburg.
The state has accused Sibiya and four co-defendants of carrying out a contract killing allegedly arranged by Khumalo, a claim he strongly denies.
On Friday, state prosecutor George Baloyi read from a confession statement said to have been made by Sibiya following his arrest. The statement alleged that Khumalo hired hitmen, including Sibiya and two other men identified as the Buthelezi brothers, to assassinate Meyiwa.
The state contends the accused were paid R100,000 for the crime, but Sibiya has denied knowing about the statement or ever meeting the men mentioned.
In his testimony, Sibiya maintained that police coerced him into making false admissions. He told the court that he was assaulted near the Vosloorus police station during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Sibiya described being tied up, suffocated with a plastic bag, and beaten by several officers. He said he still bears marks on his wrists from the incident. The defence has argued that these alleged assaults render his confession inadmissible.
The court has spent several days examining conflicting accounts about where the alleged assault took place — whether it occurred inside the Vosloorus police station or outside within the adjacent municipal complex.
Last week’s session included a detailed review of an in-loco inspection (a physical site visit) conducted earlier in the trial to verify Sibiya’s version of events.
Defence lawyers have highlighted inconsistencies between the police’s official record and the testimonies of state witnesses.
Presiding Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng is expected to allow further cross-examination on these discrepancies today. The defence is anticipated to press the state on the number of officers present and the lack of movement logs documenting the arrest.
The prosecution, meanwhile, is likely to present additional records to challenge Sibiya’s credibility and support the validity of his alleged confession.
Outside court, public interest in the case remains strong. This past weekend marked 11 years since Meyiwa’s death, and Orlando Pirates supporters gathered in Umlazi, Durban, to pay tribute to the late goalkeeper.
Meyiwa’s mother, Ntombifuthi, attended the memorial, where fans offered gifts and words of support, expressing frustration over the slow pace of justice.
Today’s proceedings are expected to focus on clarifying whether Sibiya’s confession can be admitted as evidence — a pivotal issue that could determine the direction of the trial.
Court proceedings are scheduled to begin at 10:00 (10:00 SAST).
