Meyiwa docket sent to Pretoria

THE SENZO Meyiwa murder investigation has taken another twist this week, with the docket being moved from the Hawks to the national detective service’s office in Pretoria.

Meyiwa was South Africa’s national soccer team captain at the time of his death.

A source in the investigating team told sister newspaper The Sunday Independent that the docket had been moved from the control of the Gauteng Hawks, under Major-General Prince Mokotedi, and was now in the hands of Major-General Kotsi Nkomo, the newly appointed divisional commissioner of detective services.

Nkomo, who was previously in the post of component head: auxiliary and security services at the national office, took over from Vinesh Moonoo, who retired in February.

Moonoo led a special task team of senior detectives from national, provincial and local offices in investigating the death of the Bafana Bafana captain, but could not produce results in nearly 18 months.

Moonoo made headlines when he announced last year that 25-year-old Zanokuhle Mbatha had been arrested. But months later the police were back at square one when magistrate Daniel Thulare ruled in favour of the State prosecutor, who argued that charges be dropped.

Mokotedi confirmed the docket had been sent to Nkomo’s office. “As far as I am concerned, we expect it back because it went for inspection.”

Newly appointed national spokeswoman Brigadier Mashadi Selepe said: “The department is on record that matters of this nature will not be processed through the media. All cases registered with the SAPS are investigated by the authority competent to do so. It is not in the department’s interest to manage the assignment and allocation of investigations through public platforms.”

Meyiwa was shot dead on October 26, 2014, at his girlfriend’s home, singer Kelly Khumalo, in what has been described as a robbery gone wrong.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the perpetrator(s) should contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or SMS Crime Line at 32211.

There is a R250 000 reward.