Constable Sizwe Zungu has told the Pretoria High Court that he was in the presence of men accused of killing Senzo Meyiwa in Vosloorus on the fateful night of October 26 2014.
Senzo Meyiwa was shot and killed in an alleged intrusion at his then-girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s home.
Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Mncube Mthokoziseni Maphisa, and Sifisokuhle Ntuli are being tried for the murder of Meyiwa.
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 on Thursday, 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 accused number one, Sibiya, and the others.
However, upon hearing about Meyiwa’s murder on the news the following day, he started connecting the dots.
“I shouted at him [Gwabini]. I then heard the door opening behind me and it was accused [number] five wearing a black jacket.
“He asked Gwabini if there was a problem, and he said no. Then he said he was in the company of accused [number] four.”
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.
During this period, Zungu claimed to have been followed and threatened by the relatives of the accused.
On November 18 2019, he stated, he was confronted by an armed individual who had connections to the accused.
He reported the incident to Leshabane and other senior officers. “I called General Leshabane and informed them that they wanted to shoot me,” said Zungu.
Despite his concerns and efforts to share information with the authorities, Zungu told the court that he felt that little was done to investigate his claims.
He also expressed his frustration with the lack of action taken by police officials, which led him to seek help from various individuals within the police.
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