Senzo Meyiwa

Senzo Meyiwa (1984 - 2014)

Brief overview:

Senzo (30), a professional football player, was shot in front of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, her mother, her sister Zandi, Zandi’s boyfriend Twala, Meyiwa’s friends Mthokozisi Thwala and Tumelo Madlala, and Khumalo’s 4-year-old son Christian, on 26th October 2014.

The initial story was that Senzo was shot dead when three armed men invaded his girlfriend's home in Vosloorus. Much controversy has surrounded Senzo's murder, with witnesses claiming that there has been a cover up.

Police Minister Bheki Cele said he is satisfied with the investigation, even though it appears crucial information was omitted in reports.

No one has been arrested or charged to date.
"However, sworn affidavits from witnesses and neighbours, whose names have been withheld for safety reasons, have revealed that:

- A neighbour saw Meyiwa “shoving and pushing” his killer through the window before he was gunned down;

- Gladness told neighbours, who had rushed to her home to offer support, that Meyiwa was killed by three “black males” who demanded money and cellphones;

- She handed Meyiwa’s phone to one of her neighbours minutes after he was shot;

- Another neighbour cleaned the crime scene before the police arrived;

- A third neighbour who stays close to the Khumalos rushed out on hearing gunshots but saw no one emerging from the house;

- Concerned neighbours were made to run down the street towards a recreational park in pursuit of non-existent assailants;

- Khumalo rushed a bleeding Meyiwa to hospital in his BMW X6, where he was confirmed dead;

- None of the people who were in the house at the time of the incident phoned the police until one of the neighbours called 10111 and reported the matter"

In December 2019, civil rights organisation, AfriForum, were approached by the family for assistance. They would like Advocate Gerrie Nel to represent them.

After more than five years, AfriForum along with the Meyiwa family pressured the (NPA) National Prosecuting Authority to recommend a formal inquest into Meyiwa’s death.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Street/Suburb
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
• Weapons
• Items Stolen
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
• Arrests
  • Zamokuhle Mbatha, was arrested on 31 October and appeared in court, but he was freed on 11 November due to lack of evidence.
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
  • Mthokoziseni Maphisa, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli.
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • 28/08/2023: The State’s fingers are pointing at accused Mthobisi Mncube, as the alleged intruder with deadlocks who was present during the botched robbery.
  • 01/09/2023: The CZ 75 9mm parabellum pistol found in Mthobisi Prince Mncube's possession and connected to the murder of a taxi boss in Alexandra is the same gun linked to the murder of former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, a second ballistics expert has confirmed. Mncube is currently serving a 30-year sentence for the murder of Alexandra taxi boss Reggie Mohlala.Ballistics expert Warrant Officer Cornelius Roelofse testified in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Friday where Mncube and his four co-accused are on trial for Meyiwa's murder. On Wednesday, another ballistics expert, Lieutenant-Colonel Christian Mangena, testified a bullet found at the Meyiwa crime scene in Vosloorus on 26 October 2014 was fired from the pistol. This testimony effectively placed Mncube, or at the very least, the firearm found in his possession, at the crime scene.
  • 15/03/2024: Two of the five men accused told police in their confession statements that they were paid R100,000 to carry out the alleged hit. This was revealed in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Friday after police read their confession statements. Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng ruled on Thursday that the confession statements were made freely and voluntarily. The accused had told the court they were assaulted and tubed to make the confessions. The court went into a trial within a trial for five months to determine if the confessions were admissible. Judge Mokgoatlheng admitted them into evidence. In the confession statement of accused number two, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi told police that he received R45,000 for his role in the murder and accused number one, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya was paid R30,000.

Additional Biographical Information:

Links to Media articles:

• https://archive.is/QvfMA
• https://archive.is/oHJB8
• https://archive.is/MGpPs
• https://archive.is/Qmj33
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senzo_Meyiwa
• http://archive.vn/CcXNX
• http://archive.is/hPvFf
• http://archive.is/jk801
• http://archive.is/afUY8
• http://archive.is/2ujzc
• https://archive.is/Y1imJ
• http://archive.is/hlPas
• http://archive.vn/4TgYi