The Pretoria High Court has adjourned the proceedings in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial until Wednesday due to accused number five, Fisokuhle Ntuli, not feeling well.
Informing the court about her client’s condition, defence lawyer Zandile Mshololo said: “My client informed me this morning that he’s not feeling well, and we would like to request a postponement so that he could be taken to the hospital.”
The state did not oppose the request for a postponement. When the request was made, crucial state witness Constable Sizwe Zungu was testifying.
Zungu’s credibility as a witness has come under scrutiny.
Last week, the court adjourned early to allow him to retrieve handwritten notes that were supposed to support his testimony.
The notes were expected to corroborate his claims that he was in the presence of the five accused men on the night of October 26 2014 when Meyiwa was shot and killed.
Meyiwa was gunned down while visiting his then-girlfriend Kelly Khumalo at her home in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg.
The accused – Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Mncube Mthokoziseni Maphisa, and Ntuli – are being tried for the murder of the soccer star.
They have pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances, possession of firearms without a licence, and possession of ammunition.
During the proceedings last week, Zungu told the court that he was visiting his nephew Gwabini at a hostel when he encountered Sibiya, Ntanzi and Mncube.
He said the trio were carrying guns, looked scared and were running away from something. Zungu followed them but the lights went off when he entered the room.
He said the guns the accused carried included a revolver and a 9mm pistol. This prompted him to ask Gwabini for his own firearm, a 9mm Z88, which he had left in his care.
Zungu, a seasoned police officer with 12 years of service, described how he left the hostel with Sibiya and others.
However, upon hearing about Meyiwa’s murder on the news the following day, he started connecting the dots.
Zungu realised that some of the individuals he had been with that evening might be involved in the murder of Meyiwa.
His suspicions grew and he eventually reached out to law-enforcement authorities, including General Leshabane, the cluster commander at the time.
Regrettably it was revealed in court on Monday that the notes to support this evidence had been shredded, casting doubt on Zungu’s testimony.
He confirmed that he had travelled to KwaZulu-Natal to retrieve the notes but did not return with them.
The trial continues…
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