Evidence suggests mastermind behind Meyiwa murder still at large, says AfriForum

As the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial enters another crucial phase, AfriForum says the evidence already before the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria points to a mastermind who orchestrated the late Bafana Bafana captain’s killing and believes that person should already be standing trial alongside the five accused. The comments come as accused number three, Mthobisi Mncube, continues testifying in the high-profile trial, insisting he knows nothing about Meyiwa’s murder and questioning why singer Kelly Khumalo has never been called to testify despite being inside the Vosloorus home when the soccer star was shot and killed in October 2014. Speaking toThe Star,AfriForum Private Prosecution Unit spokesperson Barry Bateman said the organisation remains convinced that the State has presented a strong case against the five accused, adding that the evidence heard during the trial also points to someone who planned or commissioned the murder.

Bateman said AfriForum’s position has not changed since the prosecution began. He said the organisation believes the evidence presented throughout the trial indicates that another individual was involved in orchestrating the murder and that there is already sufficient evidence for such a person to have been prosecuted alongside the current accused. He stressed that AfriForum is not suggesting investigators wait for fresh evidence to emerge before pursuing further action.

“The evidence as it has been presented, we believe, does reveal the involvement of a mastermind, somebody who orchestrated or commissioned the murder of Senzo Meyiwa.” Bateman said while AfriForum may have approached certain aspects of the investigation differently, it continues to support the prosecution team led by Advocate George Baloyi and believes the current case should be allowed to run its course before any decisions are made on possible future prosecutions. “We are not sure, and we’re not going to speculate on what is going to happen after this case. It will then be up to the NPA to decide.”