A police sergeant connected to the high-profile murder case of footballer Senzo Meyiwa was the victim of an armed robbery in Lombardy East, Johannesburg. According to national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the sergeant was accosted shortly after midnight while in his official vehicle.
The suspects attempted to force him into the boot of their car, but showing remarkable courage, he managed to fend them off and escape.
During the robbery, several items were stolen from the officer, including a state-issued firearm with ammunition, a police reflector jacket, and a laptop bag that contained a laptop, USB drives, and photocopies of documentation pertaining to the Meyiwa case.
However, Commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola assured the public that no sensitive or irreplaceable evidence related to the ongoing murder trial was taken. “I would like to assure the country and the Meyiwa family that this unfortunate incident will not in any way affect the ongoing murder trial,” he stated emphatically.
Masemola clarified that only copies of the occurrence book and cell registers were seized during the incident. “These documents were already presented before court when the member testified and was cross-examined,” he added. He reassured all stakeholders involved in the trial that the original docket and related exhibits remain secure.
The police have ensured compliance with legal requirements, having provided the defence team with copies of the docket as early as 2022.In light of this brazen attack, Masemola has assembled a senior investigation team, led by Gauteng Commissioner Lt-Gen Tommy Mthombeni, to explore the motive behind the assault and to examine if it is linked to the ongoing trial of five individuals accused of Meyiwa’s murder in 2014. This multidisciplinary team, including crime intelligence officers, is actively pursuing leads to apprehend the suspects.
The incident underlines the complexities and dangers surrounding the investigation into Meyiwa’s murder, a case that has captivated South Africa and arisen from a tragic event over nine years ago. As the nation watches closely, the police have vowed to remain vigilant, underscoring that critical evidence in the case remains unharmed and secure.