Meyiwa murder trial: State's final witness ordered to testify during exam period
Investigating officer, Brigadier Bongani Gininda’s study leave was discussed by the court on Wednesday morning.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng presides over the re-start of the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial on 17 July 2023. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey Makhaza/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The State’s final witness in the Senzo Meyiwa trial has been ordered by the Pretoria High Court to testify during his exam period, despite the State arguing that he be excused.
Investigating officer, Brigadier Bongani Gininda’s study leave was discussed by the court on Wednesday morning.
The State sought to argue that he be given an opportunity to complete his exams between this month and the next before taking the stand.
The court is hearing the trial against five men accused of the football star’s murder 10 years ago.
The Pretoria High Court heard that Gininda is in the final year of his LLB studies and was sitting for exams.
Initially, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng was inclined towards allowing Gininda to write his exams over the next month and only calling him to the witness stand thereafter.
“This is a compassionate court, I have once waited for a witness for a year in this court.”
But the defence’s advocate Zandile Mshololo argued that on Friday they spoke to Gininda on the phone, and he was willing to testify on the days that he was not sitting for exams.
“I was the one who called Gininda. He said he only needed the day before his exams and the day of the exam.”
Judge Mokgoatlheng ruled that because there was an agreement between the State and the defence, Gininda should testify when he is not writing or preparing for an exam.