Picture: Condolences pour in for defence lawyer Thulani Mngomezulu who represented Muzi Sibiya in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trail. Image: Kgomotso Medupe.
(The Post News)- One of the first five accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Muzi Sibiya’s lawyer, Adv. Thulani Mngomezulu, passed away in the early hours of December 10, 2024, at a hospital in Vosloorus. Adv. Mngomezulu succumbed to an undisclosed illness and had not been appearing in court for over a month. His family issued a statement confirming the tragic news of his passing.
Adv. Mngomezulu represented Sibiya, who allegedly confessed to the late Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa’s murder. Meyiwa was tragically shot dead on October 26, 2014, while visiting his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo, at her home in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg.
Adv. Mngomezulu’s death comes at a critical juncture in the case, which has faced numerous delays and controversies since its inception. He had been following the trial proceedings virtually due to the illness and was expected to start cross-examining lead investigator Brigadier Bongani Gininda, as reported by News24.
Adv. Mngomezulu’s passing leaves Sibiya in a precarious position, with the accused now relying on his family to find a new legal representative. SABC reported that Sibiya’s family has struggled financially with paying a lawyer. The legal assistance board is ready to manage the proceedings moving forward, the presiding judge advised.
Both the state and defense teams have expressed their condolences to Mngomezulu’s family. His family requested compassion and space to mourn the loss of a loved one, and his absence leaves a significant void in the murder trial. Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu will be remembered for his dedication to his clients and his role in one of South Africa’s most significant criminal trials.
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