Dramatic scenes unfolded in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial on Thursday when Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng lost patience with warring legal teams, bluntly ordering defence advocate Charles Mnisi to “shut up” during a heated clash over evidence disclosure.
The outburst came after defence lawyers accused state prosecutor Advocate George Baloyi of failing to properly share a Primrose police station cell register before introducing it as evidence. Baloyi insisted the document had been shown and the defence showed no interest – a claim the defence vehemently disputed.
“I am shocked at the behaviour of advocates. They are behaving like children,” an exasperated Judge Mokgoatlheng said, before silencing Mnisi’s attempt to respond with: “You shut up, you shut up. I am making the remarks.”
Red VW Golf contradiction adds fuel to the fire Defence advocate Sipho Ramosepele earlier exposed what he called a glaring inconsistency in the state’s version: Prosecutor Baloyi had told a witness the red Volkswagen Golf driven by Sergeant Batho Mogola was damaged in a June 2020 accident – yet Brigadier Bongani Ginindza testified the same vehicle was routinely used to transport accused number one, Muzi Sibiya, to court.
Further objections over witness statement Tensions escalated again when Baloyi referred to a statement containing an address at Basotho hostel. Mnisi objected, arguing the state must first prove the document belonged to the witness before cross-examining on its contents – prompting Baloyi to point out the defence had previously done the same without complaint.
The extraordinary public dressing-down of senior counsel highlights growing frustration in a trial plagued by delays, non-disclosure allegations and evidentiary disputes more than 11 years after the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain was shot dead in 2014.
The Senzo Meyiwa trial continues.