In a dramatic turn of events during the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, a ‘star’ celebrity witness has sought anonymity, triggering a heated debate in the courtroom.
Who is the ‘star’ celebrity witness in the Senzo Meyiwa trial?
Speculation has been rife about the identity of the witness responsible for Monday’s postponement.
Unverified reports pointed to the Khumalo sisters, Kelly or Zandie, who were present on the fateful night of Meyiwa’s murder in their mother’s Vosloorus home in October 2014.
From what we understand, the anonymous witness is in the entertainment business and fears her appearance on the stand, in a trial widely covered by the media, could jeopardise her profession.
According to state prosecutors, the unnamed witness will take the stand, but only on the condition that the media does not live stream or capture audio of her testimony.
However, defence advocates representing the accused vehemently opposed the application, arguing that they were caught off guard and emphasising that the court should not be swayed by public opinions expressed outside the courtroom.
The defence labelled the witness application as an embarrassment to the South African justice system, stating that they should have been informed about this request much earlier.
Advocate Zandile Mshololo dropped an ‘easter egg’ on the star celebrity witness’ identity when, in an attempt to expose the irony in her no-media request, she hinted at her participation in the Senzo Meyiwa Netflix documentary.
Mshololo, the defence counsel for accused number five, dismissed the witness’s fear of public scrutiny as an inadequate argument. Mshololo asserted that the court is not influenced by external comments and that its decisions are based solely on the presented evidence. Despite acknowledging her own compromised safety due to her involvement in the case since its inception, Mshololo affirmed her commitment to continuing with the trial.
Advocate Sipho Ramosepele, representing accused one and two, labelled the witness’s objections as “flimsy” and proposed that broadcasting only the audio would protect her safety.
On the other hand, advocate Zithulele Nxumalo, representing the fourth accused, urged the court not to be held hostage by one individual’s application and implored them to dismiss it as baseless.
Judge Maumela postponed Monday’s proceedings to allow legal counsel a working day to draft heads of argument for what’s expected to be an intense showdown when the trial resumes on Wednesday, 17 May 2023.
Here is a list of the people who appeared in the Senzo Meyiwa Netflix documentary:
- Amanda Steenkamp – Facial recognition expert
- Bhaka Nzama – Celebrity traditional healer
- Bonga Percy Vilakazi – Kelly Khumalo’s friend
- Bonsai Shongwe – Kelly Khumalo’s first manager
- Graeme Hosken – Investigative journalist
- Gerrie Nel – Private prosecutor
- Irene Meyiwa – Senzo’s mother
- Khomotso Phahlane – Former SAPS forensic head
- Melinda Ferguson – Kelly Khumalo’s biographer
- Musa Mgaga – Senzo’s friend
- Mzilikazi was Afrika – Journalist
- Ntombizodwa Makhoba – Journalist
- Robert Marawa – Sports broadcaster
- Shadrack Sibiya – Former Gauteng Hawks head
- Sifiso Meyiwa – Senzo’s brother
- Sipho Ngwema – Former NPA spokesperson
- Soweto Mandlanzi – Senzo’s biographer