Senzo Meyiwa Case: Ex-Investigator Robbed Of Pistol, Laptop And Case Documents

Police are investigating an armed robbery involving a former investigator tied to the high-profile murder case of football star Senzo Meyiwa. The officer, a police sergeant, was attacked shortly after midnight on Thursday in Lombardy East, Johannesburg, while driving his official vehicle.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the suspects attempted to force the sergeant into the boot of their vehicle, but he resisted and managed to escape.

“A number of items were taken during the armed robbery, including a state-issued firearm with ammunition, a police reflector jacket, and a laptop bag containing a laptop, USB drives and photocopies of documentation related to the Senzo Meyiwa case,” Mathe said.

Police: ‘No Sensitive Evidence Compromised’ in Senzo Meyiwa Trial

Despite initial concerns about the stolen items, police leadership has assured the public and Meyiwa’s family that the robbery will not affect the ongoing trial of the five accused in Meyiwa’s 2014 murder.

National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola has appointed a high-level investigative team, led by Gauteng commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, to probe the incident and determine the motive.

“I would like to assure the country and the Meyiwa family that this unfortunate incident will not in any way affect the ongoing murder trial,” Masemola stated.
“Only the copies of the occurrence book and cell registers were taken. The documents were already presented before court when the member testified and was cross-examined in court.”

Crime Intelligence Joins Probe as Cops Hunt Suspects

Authorities confirmed that the original Meyiwa case docket, exhibits, and all sensitive materials remain secure. Masemola noted that disclosure of evidence to the defence was completed in 2022, as required by law.

“The original docket and copies thereof and exhibits linked to this case are safe,” he said.
“As the matter is on trial, the copies of the docket were made available and disclosed to the defence team as early as 2022.”

A multidisciplinary team, including crime intelligence officers, has launched a manhunt for the suspects and is investigating whether the robbery was an intimidation tactic or directly linked to the murder case.

The attack comes amid heightened public interest in the Meyiwa trial, which has captured national attention for nearly a decade.

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