Court denies Meyiwa murder accused's application for acquittal

JOHANNESBURG - The application for acquittal by one of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa trial, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, has been denied by the Pretoria High Court.

Maphisa brought the application for discharge in August, arguing that the State had no case against him.

His lawyers argued that the State had not led enough evidence to secure a conviction.

Maphisa and four others were arrested in 2020 in connection with the Bafana Bafana captain’s 2014 murder.

When lawyers for Maphisa brought their section 174 discharge application for his acquittal, they argued that no reasonable person would find him guilty of Senzo Meyiwa's murder based on the evidence led by the State.

But on Tuesday, after a two-hour-long judgment, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng disagreed.

"I find there is prima facie evidence that needs answers; therefore, I cannot discharge accused #4."

Mokgoatlheng pointed out all the State’s evidence against Maphisa, including photographic and cellphone data.

Now that Maphisa’s bid for acquittal has failed, he must make his defence before the court, along with his four co-accused.