The Presidency has nothing yet to say to Zandie Khumalo after she wrote a lengthy letter expressing her dissatisfaction and asking for the Senzo Meyiwa trial to proceed promptly.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told Sunday World on Wednesday that it cannot interfere with the case.
“The Presidency does not manage nor direct court operations, and neither does it comment on matters before the courts,” said Magwenya.
Khumalo was present on the fateful night when the late Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalie was gunned down in her family home in Vosloorus on October 26 2014.
In the letter, which she sent to the president, she addresses the recent developments which saw the trial being deferred further.
In June, the trial was halted because judge Tshifhiwa Maumela was pronounced ill and unfit to carry out his duties indefinitely.
Last week, the sickly judge was suspended following a request by the Judicial Services Commission, which asked the president to intervene because Maumela was taking too long to conclude outstanding matters.
On Tuesday, the National Prosecuting Authority named Ratha Mokgoatlheng as the new trial judge to determine the fate of five men accused in the case.
Mokgoathleng’s addition to the trial means the trial would be started from scratch when it resumes on July 17, leaving many discouraged.
Khumalo expressed her dissatisfaction with the protracted case leading to the hinderance of justice taking its course, stating that her and the Khumalo family have submitted themselves and done all they could to ensure the case proceeds.
However, the delays continue to infringe upon the Meyiwas’ right to justice.
She wrote: “Mr President, a life was lost on that fateful night and it has been a long painful eight years for families that were and are still very much affected by the incident, let me speak for my family at least …
“My family [Khumalo family] has done everything in its power to assist the law officials solve this case and it has been deemed not sufficient by some, but trust me Mr President, it hasn’t been by lack of trying and we will continue to avail ourselves and continue to assist where we can.
“I would love to say we were at the wrong place at the wrong time Mr President, but we were not, we were at home having an amazing time with friends and family, we were at a place where we thought we were safe, but it was clearly not safe enough for us and certainly not safe enough for Senzo.
“Mr President, the reason I’m writing to you this letter is because I have a plea that I would like to make to you … I would like to request a serious prioritisation of the Senzo Meyiwa case moving forward.”
Khumalo wrote further: “My biggest wish would be to try and put a bit of pace to the proceedings of this case.
“I would like for the sake of the families who haven’t found closure after so long to request that one court is earmarked specifically for this case, a specific law team is also appointed to deal with nothing else but this case, and this case is in court from Monday to Friday up until it is concluded and a verdict has been given.
“During my media blackout application that I made at the Pretoria High Court, it was quite evident that the whole country has an interest in this case, so putting measures in place to ensure that the case moves at a much faster pace wouldn’t be a bad thing for everyone involved.
“I have been on that stand, Mr President, and it is not a nice place to be, but I would do it again with emotions running high for however many days if it means solving this case quicker.
“It is a traumatic experience to relive that day in front of the whole country, but what choice do have, I, like many South Africans, would like to see justice for Senzo.”
Khumalo contends that it has been a long time since Meyiwa died and since the authorities started investigating the case, stating that it is bizarre to say there is insufficient evidence for justice to finally be served.
She added that it is time the state discontinues the purported culture of postponing the matter.
“Mr President, I know this might not be the normal or traditional way of doing things, but I do feel it will help greatly the people affected by this case, people have been bleeding for eight years, Mr President, and prolonging and dragging this case even more won’t help them in any way.
“Insults have been hurled, accusations have been thrown and theories have been created, so it is in the best interest of the country at large that the case is prioritised and fast-tracked.
“It has been eight years, Mr President, and no one can say they don’t have enough evidence, all critical and required evidence have been collected and have been analysed, so let the court run its course uninterrupted. It is about time.
“Mr President, I think I speak for almost everyone when I say, the postponements, delays and breaks have been more than enough, and it is time we completely do away with them.”
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