Muzi Sibiya, an accused in the murder of Senzo Meyiwa. Image by Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
(The Post News) – When Muzi Sibiya, the first accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, asked for an early adjournment following his second day of exhausting evidence yesterday, the defence’s efforts to undermine the state’s case suffered a brief setback.
As the defence’s first witness, Sibiya, who the prosecution claims was the lookout man in the 2014 shooting death of the Bafana Bafana captain, is attempting to deny any role and claim that he was pressured into making a false confession.
The pressure mounted as Sibiya’s lawyer, Advocate Charles Mnisi, pressed him for excruciating details regarding his 2020 arrest and the alleged assault by police. Sibiya was repeatedly asked to recall the specific names of officers, exact times of events, and even details of the officers’ clothing, causing him to admit to making errors in his account.
Concerned that his client was undermining his own defence, Advocate Mnisi intervened, telling the court: “If you are tired, you are going to hamper your case; you must mention to the court that your energy levels are down… You are going to end up answering things that you yourself don’t understand.”
“I am tired,” Sibiya said, acknowledging his state of fatigue and requesting that the proceedings be stopped. I would want to ask that the meeting be postponed until tomorrow, Wednesday. The matter is scheduled to resume today after Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng allowed the motion.
Claims of Torture and Coerced Confession
The allegations of police abuse made by Sibiya dominated yesterday’s sessions. He described how officers allegedly demanded that he lead them to the scene of Meyiwa’s death while severely abusing him, including putting a plastic bag over his head while others kicked him.
Sibiya informed the judge that he denied knowing anything about the crime or where it took place.
In a dramatic moment, Sibiya showed the court the wounds on his wrists that he claims are still visible and that he believes were caused by the beatings and tight shackles. He testified that when the handcuffs were taken off so he could sign documents, Colonel Mbotho, to whom he reportedly confessed, was “surprised” to see the blood and injuries. Sibiya disputes that he ever voluntarily confessed, arguing that he signed a document he had not read and whose contents he did not know.
Sibiya is expected to face further intense examination today as the court seeks to establish the truth about the events leading up to his alleged confession.
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