The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial continues this morning, Friday, 23 May 2025, in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, with advocate Charles Mnisi expected to resume his cross-examination of lead investigator Brigadier Bongani Gininda.
What to expect from the Senzo Meyiwa trial today
The focus remains on the events and findings that led to the prosecution of five men accused of Meyiwa’s murder and whether additional individuals, including singer Kelly Khumalo, could face legal consequences.
On Thursday, Mnisi questioned Gininda about communications between Khumalo and accused number five, Fisokuhle Ntuli. According to the lead investigator, there were two phone calls from Ntuli to Khumalo shortly before the night Meyiwa was shot at the Vosloorus home of Khumalo’s mother on 26 October 2014.
Gininda further stated that the investigation uncovered a photograph of a similar bag of money on the phones of Khumalo, Ntuli, accused number three, and Longwe Twala.
Mnisi asked whether these details, along with confession statements by accused one and two, formed the basis for concluding the murder was a contractual killing.
Gininda confirmed that, based on the totality of the evidence—including repeated mentions of Khumalo’s name in multiple confessions and the nature of communications before the shooting—the investigation led to that conclusion.
The courtroom also heard that Gininda had submitted a docket and memorandum to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in 2020, recommending a warrant of arrest for Khumalo.
However, the warrant was not approved. Gininda clarified that the request for the warrant did not originate from him but from the late advocate Thulani Mngomezulu.
He explained that the NPA advised further investigation was needed to establish more direct evidence linking Khumalo to the crime.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng explained that decisions regarding warrants and prosecutions lie solely with the office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).
He stated that police officers, including investigating officers, do not have the authority to influence these decisions.
Mnisi pressed the issue, questioning why the arrest of Khumalo had not proceeded despite the submission of new information in November 2020. Gininda acknowledged that even after providing the additional evidence, no decision had been made to prosecute her before the current trial commenced.
Today, the trial is expected to continue with further examination of the State’s conclusions, especially around how links between Khumalo and the accused influenced the investigation. Mnisi may seek to challenge the basis for the exclusion of Khumalo as a co-accused despite the evidence presented.
Watch the Senzo Meyiwa trial live here
The proceedings from the Pretoria High Court will be streamed live on accredited platforms today.