By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
A “flimsy” application brought by the State’s latest witness, to bar the media from broadcasting her testimony in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial stalled proceedings on Monday.
The witness does not want her testimony to be broadcast and requested that no sound or visual of her be taken.
The state was yet to introduce the witness to the Pretoria high court on Monday.
State prosecutor George Baloyi addressed media and other legal counsels before the proceedings, saying the witness fears her testimony will be subject to comparison and scrutiny. According to Baloyi, the witness fears being “ridiculed”.
The court heard through the state that the new witness said she was worried about her safety as she has to perform in public occasionally and appearing could potentially endanger her life.
Advocate Zandile Mshololo, representing one of the accused, highlighted that the media had concerns over being informed about the state’s application only on Monday morning.
The attorney representing the media, Dan Rosengarten, argued against the media blackout, saying the witness has in the past shown she’s not camera shy and has tweeted about the case.
“She has on her own volition made media statements and has publicly spoken about the matter,” he said.
Rosengarten added that the court should consider a subpoena if the witness refuses to give evidence.
Mshololo also weighed in, poking holes in the witness’s claims that she will be prejudiced if her testimony is broadcast. She said the witness had already appeared in a Netflix documentary about Meyiwa’s murder.
“She was paid for participating [in the documentary], she benefitted without any prejudice. Now, today, she says she will suffer prejudice.
“She has said a lot about this case, and she never asked for any limitations of not showing her face or any visuals not being recorded in that documentary,” said Mshololo.
Advocate Charles Mnisi said his client felt if the broadcast was “shut down” those at home following the proceedings would miss out and his family wanted to follow the court proceedings.
Advocate Sipho Ramosepele said the witness should not be given special treatment because she’s a public figure.
Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela allowed the State and the defence to file their heads of arguments and the issue will be dealt with on Wednesday.
Five men are standing trial for the 2014 murder of the Bafana Bafana captain.
Meyiwa was shot at the Vosloorus home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, in what the State believes was a robbery gone wrong.
The high court heard testimony from four State witnesses since the trial started over a year ago.
So far, it heard from two police officers, one of which is a forensic specialist while the other was the first responder.
Two of the soccer star’s friends who were in the house when the soccer star was shot also gave testimony.
Over the last two weeks, Meyiwa’s friend Mthokozisi Thwala told the court his version of events, including how the first intruder allegedly spoke isiZulu or isiSotho when he demanded cell phones and money.
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Video Courtesy of SABC.