The lead investigator in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial dropped a bombshell in court, asserting that the soccer player was not a victim of a botched robbery but, instead, fell prey to a contract killing.
Brigadier Bongani Gininda, head of the SA Police Service’s National Cold Case Unit and lead investigator, unveiled this revelation while reading his affidavit in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. He disclosed that, based on evidence under oath, Meyiwa’s murder was a premeditated hit orchestrated by five suspects with a history of carrying out contract killings in KwaZulu-Natal taxi wars.
Gininda detailed the alleged roles of the five accused, clarifying that Mthokoziseni Maphisa, accused number four, was stationed outside the house with the duty to guard while armed with a small firearm. He emphasized that the accused were not assaulted but confessed willingly, countering the claims of severe assault made by accused number one, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, and accused number two, Bongani Ntanzi, during the ongoing trial-within-a-trial.
Additionally, Gininda highlighted that Ntanzi had attempted to negotiate a plea bargain with the State, willing to implicate the other accused in exchange for a reduced sentence. Despite this shocking revelation, the court ruled that Gininda’s affidavit constituted hearsay evidence and was not admitted as part of the formal evidence.
Senzo Meyiwa, the former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, was murdered on October 26, 2014, while visiting his singer girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, at her home in Vosloorus. The trial continues with Gininda facing cross-examination on Tuesday.