The Pretoria High Court resumes the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial today, Monday, 19 May 2025, with attention turning to the expected cross-examination of lead investigator Brigadier Bongani Gininda by Advocate Charles Mnisi.
What to expect from the Senzo Meyiwa trial today
Mnisi, who now represents accused number one, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, confirmed at the last court appearance that he would be ready to proceed with the cross-examination.
This session follows a delay-filled appearance on 5 May 2025, during which issues around the court’s AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) data disclosure were raised. Mnisi questioned inconsistencies related to the tracking of police vehicles used in the arrests of the accused and other operations.
He requested data from all vehicles linked to the cold case investigation, indicating that this information was essential to test the credibility of the state’s account of how and where the arrests occurred.
The court is expected to revisit these AVL data concerns as Mnisi examines Gininda’s role in leading the investigation and coordinating arrest procedures. Gininda previously testified that the five accused matched the descriptions of the intruders provided by witnesses who were in the house where Meyiwa was shot.
The cross-examination is anticipated to scrutinise those identifications, the investigative steps taken, and the documentation supporting the arrests.
Another point of interest is the confirmation from the police that an alleged attempted kidnapping of a former investigator, who had case-related documents stolen, will not affect the integrity of the trial.
Authorities stated that the original docket and exhibits remain safely stored and accounted for.
In addition, during the previous session, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng acknowledged that certain questions surrounding vehicle tracking had not been raised during earlier cross-examinations.
He noted that Mnisi’s new approach could be due to changes in defence strategy following the death of Sibiya’s former lawyer, advocate Thulani Mngomezulu.
Today’s court session, set to begin at 10:00, is expected to bring focus back to the State’s narrative and the methods used to implicate the accused. As Gininda’s evidence forms a core part of the prosecution’s case, the defence is likely to challenge the consistency and reliability of the procedures followed during the investigation.
Watch the Senzo Meyiwa trial live here
The case involves five accused—Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, Mthobisi Mncube, and Fisokuhle Ntuli—charged with the murder of Senzo Meyiwa, who was shot dead on 26 October 2014.
The accused have all pleaded not guilty, and the trial, which restarted in 2023, continues to explore witness testimonies, forensic evidence, and procedural questions that have shaped public perception and legal debate around the case.