Senzo Meyiwa trial: Zungu’s statement takes centre stage in court

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has ruled that there is no hand-written statement by the current witness in the murder trial of former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa, Constable Sizwe Zungu. 

This comes as the State furnished the court with a typed version of witness Zungu’s statement which he himself pointed errors on.

WITNESS STATEMENT TAKES CENTRE STAGE IN SENZO MEYIWA MURDER TRIAL 

On Friday, 8 September, defence lawyer for accused 3, Advocate Charles Mnisi said he would not commence with cross-examination before he has the original hand-written statement.

Zungu told the court that the typed statement was written based on notes about meetings and other developments about the case that he took down. He was then asked by Presiding Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng to fetch the notes believed to be at home in KwaZulu-Natal.

The police officer is the first witness who has implicated all the five accused in the murder of Meyiwa having testified that he was with them at a hostel in Vosloorus on the fateful night. He further told testified that Meyiwa’s death was celebrated with a whiskey.

ALSO READ: Judge in Senzo Meyiwa trial concerned about witness safety

On Monday, Zungu told the court that he could not find the notes he went to look for in KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend.

State Prosecutor Advocate George Baloyi argued that Zungu’s notes should not be subject to disclosure and that the defence should cross-examine Zungu based on his statement.

Legal representative for accused 5 Advocate Zandile Mshololo argued that her client has been prejudiced by the non-disclosure of Zungu’s statement.

[WATCH] Adv. Zandile Mshololo says her client has been prejudiced by the non-disclosure of witness Constable Sizwe Zungu's statement. Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng says the state has explained that the witness had been threatened.#Newzroom405 #SenzoMeyiwaTrial pic.twitter.com/pH8vhBvWkM

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) September 11, 2023

JUDGE RULES DEFENCE SHOULD CROSS-EXAMINE CONSTABLE SIZWE ZUNGU

Presiding Judge Ratha Mokgatlheng ruled that the defence should cross-examine the witness.

“The court has utilised its discretion to decide whether certain evidence is essential or not. In the exercise of its discretion which cannot be interfered with, if it is exercised judiciously, this court finds that no written statement exists,” Mokgatlheng said.

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