Senzo Meyiwa Trial: Legal Aid Refuses to Pay Section 174 Application Fee, Defence’s Future Uncertain

• The defence of the five men accused of killing former football star Senzo Meyiwa will appear before the court on 7 August 2025 to plead for their case to be dropped
• The case is expected to continue before the High Court in Johannesburg, and the state believes it has a strong case to convict the suspects
• South Africans were not satisfied, as some believed that others were involved in Meyiwa's murder

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG — The state believes that it has a solid case against the five men accused of murdering former football star Senzo Meyiwa. However, the accused's defence is ready on 7 August 2025 to argue for their cases to be dropped after the state wrapped up its case.

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According to SABC News, the Meyiwa case is expected to resume at the North Gauteng High Court in Tshwane. The defence will interrogate witnesses that the state has never called in an attempt to shake the charges against their representatives. However, the state will argue that the accused are guilty.

What is the state arguing?

The case's lead investigator, Brigadier Bongani Gininda, testified that one of the accused, Bongani Ntanzi, confessed to the murder and implicated the other four accused. His affidavit also implicated singer Kelly Khumalo and said she hired them to kill Meyiwa.

Gininda recommended that Khymalo be charged, but authorities called for an investigation to uncover more evidence that could make the charges stick.

What happened when Meyiwa was killed?

According to the State, Accused number 3, Mthobisi Mncube, was the one who was carrying a gun, and Accused number two, Ntanzi, followed him inside the house. Muzi Sibiya, accused number one, and Mthokoziseni Maphisa, the fourth accused, were outside while Fisokuhle Ntuli, the fifth accused, was the getaway driver.

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What did South Africans say?

Netizens commented on Facebook and discussed the case.

PersieMhlanga said:

"Those guys are innocent anyway. The people who were in the house know everything."

Madumza Mngonya said:

"We are waiting for Kelly Khumalo to take the stand. The first case to be heard with the mastermind watching the proceedings at home."

Nyana Womntu said:

"As long as Kelly and Longwe are not charged, then there is nothing to celebrate."

Xolani Xolie Khuzwayo asked:

"What about people who were present in the house during the incident?"

Gadlabebyka Sigubudu said:

"Someone else must be charged after this."

Accused refused to wear uncushioned leg irons

In a related article, Briefly News reported that the accused refused to be bound in uncushioned leg irons. The two suspects who complained about their leg irons appeared on 20 July 2025.

The accused complained that they were in pain and said that the irons had no cushioning, causing discomfort around their ankles. As a result, Mncube refused to come to court without cushioned leg irons. The state adjourned the case for two hours, and they were allowed to wear cushioned leg irons.

Source: Briefly News