After being arrested on drug-related charges, Muzi Sibiya, the primary suspect in the murder of former Bafana Bafana goalie Senzo Meyiwa, was questioned about the football player’s passing.
This was disclosed by Sibiya’s attorney, advocate Charles Mnisi, during his cross-examination with police brigadier Bongani Gininda, the lead investigator in the murder case, on Tuesday at the Pretoria High Court.
Following police constable Sizwe Zungu’s statement, an investigation into the matter led to the discovery of Sibiya’s drug case, according to Mnisi.
Gininda confirmed that Zungu’s statement led to Sibiya’s arrest.
Warrants of arrest
“Zungu’s statement also unearthed two cases of attempted murder and possession of ammunition against Sibiya,” he said.
However, according to Mnisi, a warrant of arrest for Sibiya was issued on May 30, 2020, for possession of drugs.
“Yes, for the drugs case, but there was already a warrant for one attempted murder case, and we applied for a warrant for the other attempted murder case. So there were three warrants of arrest,” Gininda clarified.
He added that when Sibiya was questioned again, he said he did not know anything, and Warrant Officer Meshack Makhubo recommended that he be freed since it does not appear that he was responsible for Meyiwa’s death.
“I was obviously not in that meeting, but what I can say is that in March 2019 it was clear it related to the Thembisa case.
“Secondly, there is no statement in that Thembisa docket indicating that Makhubo was part of that investigation,” he added.
Mnisi retaliated, stating in his analysis that Sibiya was arrested in March 2019 for another reason but was subsequently questioned about Meyiwa’s death.
Killed while visiting his girlfriend
“The investigators in the Thembisa case could not have applied that methodology because they know nothing about this case or its investigation; they were not part of it,” said Gininda.
Mnisi questioned: “So, brigadier, in short, you are then saying that this information that accused number one is saying, from your perspective, could never have happened that way?”
Gininda said: “I was not there when what happened in Thembisa happened. I can confirm that he was arrested. I was not present during the events that occurred in Thembisa; I am providing evidence based on what I know.
“There is no information that was brought to me by any of the investigators that they questioned accused number one, but there is no evidence in both dockets that support those claims.”
Meyiwa met his demise on October 26, 2014, while visiting his musician lover, Kelly Khumalo, in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg.
All five of the men who have been arrested since then have pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.
