The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial resumed before the Pretoria High Court on Monday after days of standing down.
This after state prosecutor, advocate George Baloyi, requested a postponement to allow the state additional time to gather critical information regarding the automatic vehicle location (AVL) data of vehicles used during the arrest of the accused.
This information was requested by defence counsel, advocate Charles Mnisi, the legal representative for accused one and three in the murder trial.
In the absence of advocate Zandile Mshololo, who represents accused number five, Baloyi gave feedback to the court.
AVL data not found
He read to the court an affidavit stating that there was no AVL data available for the period covering May, June, and July 2020.
“There is no AVL data for these four vehicles and others. There was a migration of the tracking platform. They could not get the legacy data from the tracking company.
“The official said he searched the system and found that the current tracking system was only in use after 2020.” In a nutshell, as far as vehicles used by the SWAT team, there is no AVL data,” Baloyi added.
He further said that the vehicle used by the late Sergeant Mabena was involved in an accident.
“We were able to get the case docket after he was involved in that fatal accident; the postmortem and photos of the vehicle in which Mabena died, the white Toyota bakkie.”
However, Mnisi said a member of the investigating team in the case revealed that all the vehicles are fitted with AVLs.
“It is very surprising; in fact, it is not only surprising, but it confirms our view that we had all along that we could not have actually expected our persecutors to become our redeemers and save us at the same time, and this is exactly what is happening here,” said Mnisi.
Shot and killed at girlfriend’s home
He further said there was no proper investigation that was done through the affidavit that Baloyi read.
“I am still requesting that the people who penned this affidavit should either come to court and give their explanation, be cross-examined, or be assisted on how to conduct this investigation,” Mnisi added.
Meyiwa was shot dead on October 26, 2014, at the Vosloorus home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo.
The five men accused of killing Meyiwa face charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
They have all pleaded not guilty.
