Johannesburg, 20 May 2026 — A senior police General dropped major contradictions in the long-running Senzo Meyiwa murder trial on Tuesday, repeatedly telling the court that a key state witness never shared crucial details with him during the investigation.
Testifying as a defence witness, General Leshabane dismantled large parts of Constable Zulu’s evidence regarding events at Basotho Hostel on 26 October 2014, the day Senzo Meyiwa was killed.
Key Bombshell Moments
When taken through Constable Zulu’s claims one by one, General Leshabane answered “No, my Lord. He never told me that” to almost every major allegation, including:
- That Zulu was personally present at the Basotho Hostel that day
- Seeing the five accused drinking, eating meat, and celebrating
- Observing the accused persons handling firearms (.38 revolver and 9mm pistol)
- The alleged announcement by one of the accused: “Senzo Meyiwa is no more.”
- Details about clothing changes and handing over guns
The General also testified that Constable Zulu refused to provide contact details for verification and refused to make a formal statement at the time.
Allegations of Pressure and Warnings
General Leshabane revealed he had warned prosecutors early on that Zulu’s information was mostly hearsay. He described tense consultations where he felt pressured and claimed he even raised concerns with senior police officials about the handling of the witness.
The testimony led to heated objections from the State, with defence lawyers arguing that the full conduct of the investigation must be scrutinised.
Background
Senzo Meyiwa, the beloved Orlando Pirates goalkeeper and Bafana Bafana captain, was shot and killed during a home invasion in Vosloorus on 26 October 2014. Five men have been on trial for over a decade in one of South Africa’s most high-profile cases.
The defence has consistently challenged the reliability of key witnesses and the police investigation.
These are claims and testimony presented in open court. All five accused maintain their innocence and are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The trial continues.