The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial was adjourned in Pretoria on Tuesday after defense advocate Charles Mnisi questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrest of accused number one, Muzi Sibiya, alleging that he was assaulted and interrogated about the footballer’s killing despite being detained on a drug-related charge.
Mnisi argued that Sibiya was allegedly beaten in the presence of senior police officers while being questioned about Meyiwa’s 2014 murder, even though he had been arrested for dealing in drugs. According to Mnisi, Sibiya maintained that he knew nothing about the crime, but the assault allegedly continued until officers realized they could not extract a confession.
“He was then taken to another office and questioned again in the presence of other officers, including Lishaban Ciba, Makubu, and Zongu,” Mnisi told the court. “When he again denied involvement, Makubu allegedly suggested his release, stating that he appeared uninvolved in Meyiwa’s death.”
However, the prosecution disputed these claims, stating that there was no evidence in the case dockets to support Sibiya’s allegations. The lead investigator testified that Sibiya’s arrest was solely linked to drug-related charges, which were later withdrawn due to a lack of authentication for the seized substances.
“I was not present during any alleged interrogation regarding Meyiwa’s murder,” the investigator said. “There is no statement or record in either the drug case or the murder investigation indicating that such an incident occurred.”
Mnisi requested an overnight adjournment to review details related to Sibiya’s arrest, prompting a brief exchange with the court.
“I thought you had read all the records,” the judge remarked.
Mnisi responded, “I am not a computer—I cannot retain over 40,000 pages of information in my head. I need time to revisit the documents.”
The trial will resume as the defense seeks to further scrutinize the circumstances of Sibiya’s arrest and alleged mistreatment.
Meyiwa, a former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, was shot dead in 2014 in what was initially believed to be a botched robbery. Five men are currently on trial for his murder, with the case continuing to unfold amid legal disputes and conflicting testimonies.
