Accused in Senzo Meyiwa Case Claims Senior Police Officer Shadrack Sibiya Was Present During His Assault
The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial took a dramatic twist on Monday when Muzi Sibiya, one of the five men accused of killing the late football star, claimed he was assaulted by police officers in the presence of Deputy Police Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya.
Testifying in the Pretoria High Court, Muzi Sibiya said his ordeal began in Chloorkop, where he was allegedly attacked by several individuals before being arrested.
During cross-examination, State prosecutor Advocate George Baloyi pressed him for details about the arrest, prompting the accused to name several people he said were at the scene.
“I met Zungu, Makhoba, Leshabane, and Sibiya. If anyone says I’m lying, then how would I know those names? What I’m telling this court truly happened,” he said.
When Baloyi asked whether the “Sibiya” he referred to was General Shadrack Sibiya, the accused confirmed. His lawyer, Advocate Charles Mnisi, then intervened, asking the State to clarify the reference.
Sibiya further stated that the senior officer he mentioned was the same one who, according to reports, had been accused by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of interfering in the work of the Political Killings Task Team, Sunday World reveals.
Also Read:Muzi Sibiya Claims Police Tortured Him to Force a Confession in Senzo Meyiwa Murder Case
Sibiya Rejects Drug-Dealing Allegations
The accused also took issue with how the police handled his arrest, insisting that he was never searched.
“They forced me down and handcuffed me. I didn’t have any drugs on me, and they never searched me. It was only when I got to Tembisa that they said they were charging me with dealing in drugs,” he testified.
He added that he had no idea how the drug allegations came about, saying the claims were “completely false.”
Sibiya also denied that police seized his cellphone during the arrest.
“My uncle collected my phone from the police station. I found it at home later,” he said.
When Baloyi suggested there were claims that the cellphone had in fact been taken by the police, Sibiya replied,
“If someone says that, then where did they take it to? Because my uncle took it and I later used it again.”
Cellphone Links Between Accused
The State further questioned Sibiya about reports that his cellphone number and photos were discovered on a phone belonging to co-accused Bongani Ntanzi.
Sibiya dismissed the link, saying his phone was shared among family members.
“Anyone at home could use my phone when I had airtime. I can’t explain how my pictures ended up on his phone. Maybe you should ask him,” he said.
Baloyi pointed out that Sibiya’s former lawyer, the late Thulani Mngomezulu, had not challenged the claim that the phone was confiscated. The accused responded that he decided to testify so he could “set the record straight.”
At that point, defence advocate Sipho Ramosepele objected, accusing Baloyi of misrepresenting evidence.
“My lord, the context of those calls was between this witness and the fourth accused, Mthokoziseni Maphisa,” he argued.
“My Father Couldn’t Believe What He Heard”
Sibiya ended his testimony with an emotional account of how his father was shocked when police returned him home to KwaZulu-Natal and revealed that he had been assaulted in connection with Meyiwa’s murder.