Shockwaves in Court as Witness Reveals How Senzo Meyiwa’s Death Was Celebrated with a Bottle of Whisky
In a dramatic turn of events at the Pretoria High Court, a state witness has revealed that one of the five men accused of killing soccer star Senzo Meyiwa announced his death before it became official news. Constable Sizwe Skhumbuzo Zungu, the witness, placed all five accused individuals at a hostel in Vosloorus before and after the murder, confirming their acquaintance.
Celebration with Whisky
On the night of Senzo Meyiwa’s tragic murder on October 26, 2014, Constable Zungu testified that the accused celebrated his death with a bottle of whisky. This revelation paints a chilling picture of the events that transpired that fateful night.
Constable Zungu Places Accused at Hostel
Constable Zungu, who himself hails from KwaZulu-Natal, testified that he knew some of the accused from their hometown and recognized others from the hostel. He further revealed that all five accused individuals were present at a hostel in Vosloorus before and after Senzo Meyiwa’s tragic murder.
The Accused and Their Charges
The five accused individuals, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli, face a range of serious charges, including premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances, possession of firearms without a license, and possession of ammunition.
Witness Account of the Events
Constable Zungu provided a detailed account of the events leading up to the murder. He had spent time with the accused, drinking and socializing earlier in the day. Later, he witnessed them entering the hostel in haste during the evening hours.
Firearms and Suspicion
During his testimony, Constable Zungu described the moment when Sibiya and Mncube entered a room in the hostel with firearms in their possession. Sibiya had a .38 revolver, and Mncube carried a 9mm pistol.
According to TimesLive, the court has already heard from several witnesses that the shot that killed Senzo Meyiwa was fired from a 9mm gun found on Mncube when he was arrested on a separate matter in Cleveland, Johannesburg, in 2015 — a year after Senzo Meyiwa’s killing.
Changing Clothes and Intruder Identification
Zungu noted that Ntanzi, one of the accused, changed jackets from black to grey while wearing a hoodie.
“I then noticed that he had changed jackets and was now wearing a grey jacket from [the] black [one]. He looked at me from underneath the jacket as to whether I could see him. He then went to the same room where the others were,” said Zungu.
This detail aligns with eyewitness accounts that had previously identified Ntanzi as one of the intruders on the night of the murder.
Witness Testifies Early Announcement of Senzo Meyiwa’s Death
As the night unfolded, Zungu revealed that Sibiya removed his red shirt, grabbed something to stand on, and held a bottle in his hand, and asked everyone if they had heard that Senzo had died.
“He grabbed something to stand on and he was carrying a bottle in his hand. He then asked: ‘Have you heard that Meyiwa is no more?” Zungu told the court
Zungu revealed that he disputed this statement and checked social media on his phone for confirmation but did not find any such announcement. He claims he only discovered the news on the next day.