Meyiwa murder trial: One of the accused claims police mistreatment during alleged confession

JOHANNESBURG - The first man accused of Senzo Meyiwa’s murder has described the dehumanising manner in which he alleges police treated him while forcing him to confess to the crime.

Muzi Sibiya took the witness stand as the defence opened its case on Monday.

The trial within a trial is to determine the admissibility of confession statements signed by Sibiya and his co-accused Bongani Ntanzi.

According to police, when Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya was arrested on 30 May 2020, he was taken to his shack to search for his identity book.

He also wanted to change his pants saying they were too expensive for him to go to prison in.

But Sibiya said that’s not why he needed to change his pants.

He said after his arrest, he was taken to a municipal building where he was suffocated until he wet himself and then he was later taken back to his shack.

“They said they could not take me with my wet pants. They took off my wet pants and my underwear, and put clear underwear and pants on me.”

Sibiya would go on to sign a confession statement at the Diepkloof Police Station, something he said he was coerced to do.