The trial of the five suspects accused of murdering Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa, resumed at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria after a three-week break.
Senzo Meyiwa trial: Court hears vivid details about Zungu’s day with the alleged killers at Basothong Hostel
On Monday, 2 October 2023, proceedings commenced with the cross-examination of a key witness, Constable Sizwe Zungu, who had previously testified about his encounter with the accused at a hostel in Vosloorus on the day of Meyiwa’s tragic killing.
Zungu detailed that he was present at Basothong Hostel in Vosloorus on 26 October 2014, the fateful day Meyiwa was murdered.
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During his testimony, Zungu asserted that he met with the accused and consumed alcohol with them, hours before the fatal incident involving Meyiwa.
Advocate Charles Mnisi, the defence representative of Carlos Mthobisi Mncube, challenged Zungu’s testimony.
While he admitted his client was indeed present at the Basothong Hostel in Vosloorus on the specified day, Mnisi contended that Mncube had never encountered Zungu.
Zungu explained that during his visit to the hostel, three of the accused temporarily left but returned later in the evening.
Mnisi directed his questioning towards the evidence related to photographs downloaded from Mncube’s cellphone after his arrest in an unrelated case in 2015.
Zungu previously informed the court that some of these photographs were taken while he was with Mncube, Bongani, and Sibiya as they purchased alcohol.
However, he admitted to not being familiar with the area where the alcohol was bought.
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Mnisi sought to clarify certain details regarding the photographs and the occasion. He revealed that the location was in Vosloorus, known as Lesedi and that the group had visited their friend, Makhekhe Ndlela.
Mnisi also inquired about the identity of an individual in one of the pictures, which Zungu was uncertain about due to the person wearing a cap.
Zungu testified that when he initially encountered Mncube at the hostel, he was wearing a lime-coloured t-shirt and a necklace. However, he noted that Mncube was not dressed in the same attire in the photographs.
Furthermore, Zungu expressed that his suspicions were aroused when the accused returned to the room, with Sibiya, in particular, changing his jacket.
Zungu observed that all the accused appeared nervous during their time in the room.
Alas, court proceedings are scheduled to resume on Tuesday.