Trial of defendants accused of murdering Senzo Meyiwa to start in April

25 October 2021  

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, acting in terms of a watching brief for the mother and sisters of the murdered Senzo Meyiwa, was in the Palm Ridge High Court today to represent the family in the pretrial proceedings. The trial dates for the five accused persons were set down for 11 to 29 April and 13 May to 17 June 2022 and the matter was moved to the Northern Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

“The Private Prosecution Unit certainly hopes that this is the last postponement, because it has been seven years since the murder of Senzo. We are also disappointed that the mastermind has still not been charged. We continue to hold the view and support the position of the SAPS that there exists enough evidence to prosecute the mastermind in what we believe was a contract killing. Our concerns with regard to the indictment and summary of substantial fact remains and we do not support the version that it was a robbery that went wrong,” says Adv. Gerrie Nel, head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit.

Adv. Nel adds that it remains a risk to proceed with the prosecution of suspects in a contract killing without charging the mastermind. The reasons why the matter could not proceed this year were never shared with the public nor the family, counsel decided the date amongst themselves during a round table pretrial.”

“Society has the right to demand competent, rational and fair action by the prosecuting authority, without any political interference. This is one of the reasons why AfriForum is involved in the case. We owe it to society to ensure that the NPA prosecutes without fear, favour or prejudice. Above all this family deserves closure,” says Natasha Venter, advisor at AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit.

Issued by Carina Bester, Media Relations Officer, AfriForum, 25 October 2021