In the ongoing Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, the lawyer representing one of the accused, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, has presented a compelling argument to the Pretoria High Court, asserting that there is insufficient evidence tying his client to the crime scene. This development comes as part of a Section 174 discharge application, which allows an accused person to request the court to rule them not guilty based on the prosecution’s case at its conclusion.
Maphisa and five other individuals are on trial for the alleged murder of the former Bafana Bafana captain, Senzo Meyiwa, who was fatally shot in 2014 at the home of his girlfriend in Vosloorus, situated in the East Rand. Advocate Zithulele Nxumalo, Maphisa’s attorney, has dedicated hours to dismantling the State’s evidence, attempting to show that there is no basis for a conviction.
Ongoing testimonies from the prosecution include claims from Constable Sizwe Zungu, who reported seeing Maphisa at the Basotho hostel on the critical day of Meyiwa’s murder and allegedly witnessed him in a group with the other accused later that evening. Zungu’s assertions have raised questions, as his account is said to be partially supported by a confession from fellow accused, Bongani Ntanzi, who has since repudiated his statement.
In a dramatic twist, Advocate Nxumalo has shifted focus from the State’s evidence. He cited discrepancies and contradictions, particularly referencing eyewitness accounts from neighbours who have testified about intruders fleeing the scene of the crime. These insights challenge the credibility of Zungu’s observations and highlight the lack of concrete proof placing Maphisa at the scene when Meyiwa was shot.
The next steps in the trial hinge on the court’s evaluation of Nxumalo’s arguments. Should the Pretoria High Court side with Maphisa, it could result in the dismissal of all charges against him.