Muzi Sibiya, an accused in the murder of Senzo Meyiwa. Image by Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
(The Post News)- In the High Court in Pretoria, accused number one Muzi Sibiya broke down as he described the emotional toll of his detention and alleged police torture as the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial began its third day of dramatic defense testimony.
Sibiya, who has always insisted on his innocence, returned to the witness stand this morning, resuming his evidence-in-chief and repeating his allegations that he was violently forced to sign a confession he never signed by police.
Sibiya described in detail the emotional damage the experience had caused, especially to his family, during his testimony. A few days after his detention in May 2020, he described a visit with his family and a reunion with his uncle, which was arranged by the police.
Sibiya narrated the incident to Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng while sobbing in court: “I also stated to my mother that I was arrested by the police, and then they’ve been hitting me, and they arrested me for something that I am not even aware of… When I told my mother that the police were accusing me of killing Senzo, they continued to attack me even after I told them that I had nothing to do with his death and that I did not kill him.
Sibiya reportedly revealed graphic information about the alleged tactics police used to press him into confessing and disclosing the crime scene. He stated that he was escorted to Vosloorus and instructed to point out the crime scene after being gathered by a group of officers, including Brigadier Bongani Gininda and Sergeant Vusimuzi Mogane.
Sibiya says the authorities used harsh methods when he stated he wasn’t present and had no knowledge of the crime. “They made me sit down, then covered my face with plastic. I couldn’t breathe,” he told the court. He alleges that while he struggled for air under the plastic bag, officers were kicking him and ordering him to cooperate. Moreover, Sibiya restated his claim that he is unaware of the scene of the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain’s murder.
Defence Denies Sibiya’s Allegations
The state’s argument that Sibiya was present at the location on the night of the 2014 murder and served as the lookout man is directly at odds with his testimony. He is currently being charged with the murder, which happened at Meyiwa’s ex-girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s house in Vosloorus.
Even while the accused strongly denies any involvement, his continuous inability to offer a credible explanation for his movements on the night of the murder continues to be a source of great concern. The court also heard that Sibiya was brought to a container at Alberton Police Station and made to undress for pictures following the alleged plastic bag abuse.
Sibiya is still on the stand for his third day of the trial as the defense tries to persuade the court and the public that the evidence connecting the accused to the murder was gathered via grave abuses of his rights. The conclusion of the supposed confession’s admissibility is still a crucial question in Senzo Meyiwa’s prolonged fight for justice.
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