Court resumes long-running Senzo Meyiwa murder trial

The trial over the murder of former soccer captain Senzo Meyiwa resumed in the North Gauteng High Court today with the five accused returning to the dock. Meyiwa was fatally shot during a home invasion at the house of his then-girlfriend’s mother in Vosloorus, southeast Johannesburg, in 2014.

The session attracted heightened attention even before proceedings began, as family members, fans and media waited outside the courthouse. Inside, the court took up procedural matters and set new dates for witness testimonies. Defence and prosecution counsel sparred over admissibility of evidence, including CCTV footage and forensic reports from the scene of the crime.

Relatives of Meyiwa, once a key figure in South African football, sat in the front rows, their expressions marked by years of anguish and anticipation. The prosecution team opened the case by outlining its timeline of events: the sudden arrival of intruders at the Vosloorus home, the fatal shooting, and subsequent police investigations which stretched over a decade.

On the defence side, attorneys signalled they would challenge the integrity of the investigation, raising questions about police conduct, delays in trial commencement and the reliability of witnesses who have surfaced years after the incident. Lawyers emphasised their clients’ rights to a fair and speedy trial.

Outside, a heavy police turnout maintained security, and barricades prevented large gatherings within close proximity to the court building. Community interest remained intense, with many noting that the verdict will test the criminal justice system’s ability to deliver accountability in high-profile homicide cases.

The next hearing has been scheduled for a date next month, when the prosecution is expected to call its first key witness. As the country watches, the Meyiwa murder case continues its long journey through the courts, each step loaded with public expectation for closure and justice.