By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial to continue on Wednesday with accused 1 Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya on the witness stand after an early adjournment.
Sibiya was the first defence witness to take the stand. He maintained his innocence and alleged that he was coerced into signing a confession through intimidation and physical assault by police officers.
It’s been almost three months since the State closed its case after two years of leading witnesses against the five accused.
During the today’s proceedings, Sibiya was asked to give a detailed account of his 2020 arrest and alleged assault by police on multiple occasions.
His lawyer, Advocate Charles Mnisi, pushed him to be specific in his answers, asking for the names of the police officers present, the exact times certain events happened, and what the officers were wearing.
However, during his testimony, Sibiya claimed to be making mistakes, which his lawyer cautioned him against.
Mnisi asked the court for an early adjournment, stating that the cross-examination was taking its toll on his client.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng agreed to the early adjournment, and the matter is set to resume on Wednesday with Sibiya back on the witness stand.
The five men – Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, and Fisokuhle Ntuli are charged with Meyiwa’s 2014 murder at the home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo.
Meanwhile the deputy national police commissioner for crime detection Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya has dismissed allegations that he interfered in the Meyiwa murder case when he was Hawks boss in Gauteng.
Sibiya was the head of the Hawks in Gauteng when Meyiwa was killed in October 2014 in Vosloorus.
He was accused of being part of a “cover-up” and of having stalled progress in the police investigations into the matter.
Testifying before a parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating allegations of corruption in the criminal justice system, Sibiya denied the cover up.
“I want to say to South Africans that I am not involved in the Meyiwa case, and I’ve never done anything wrong,” he said.
“I’ve done nothing to cause the matter to be unsuccessful.”
Sibiya said he was at home when he heard about the shooting and immediately went to the hospital before going to the crime scene.
He instructed his team to “secure the scene, preserve the scene. This is a scene of crime.” However, by the time he arrived, the scene had already been processed by forensic experts.
He said Gauteng MEC Sizakele Nkosi Malobane and other senior officers were present during the investigation, describing the fact-finding process as orderly and professional.
Sibiya explained that the National Commissioner at the time, Riah Phiyega, decided to appoint a separate team of experienced investigators to take over the case, effectively removing the Hawks from further involvement.