Pretoria, In a dramatic twist during the long-running murder trial of footballer Senzo Meyiwa, witness Absalom Zungu declared that if anything happens to him, he holds his son and the lead investigator accountable.
Overturning earlier statements, Zungu stated in the North Gauteng High Court that his signature was forged on a statement, implicating the accused, Muzi Sibiya and Bongani Ntanzi.
Zungu (76) testified that his son, Constable Skhumbuzo Zungu, and Brigadier Bongani Gininda influenced his testimony. “If I die it will be my son and Gininda who have blood on their hands,” he said, sparking shock in the courtroom.
Shortly before, Zungu denied ever authorising the statement, claiming that the document shown as his signature was not his.
The court heard Zungu was coaxed to meet Gininda at a farm in Utrecht, but he requested the meeting instead take place at Newcastle Police Station, KwaZulu-Natal.
He alleged that the investigator promised bodyguards and relocation to another country if he cooperated, and he refused the offer.
When pressed, Zungu admitted meeting Gininda but insisted no formal statement was made following that meeting.
Observers say this testimony may shift the spotlight in the high-profile trial, raising questions about the reliability of key evidence and the role of police in the case.
As officials prepare to re-examine documentation and witness credibility, the drama promises further courtroom fireworks.
Sub-Editor: Thibela Thandeka
