Torture or Tactic? Inside Fisokuhle Ntuli’s Explosive Claims in the Senzo Meyiwa Trial

Correctional Services rejects torture accusations as inmate refuses court appearance

The Pretoria High Court was thrown into disarray on Wednesday morning when murder accused Fisokuhle Ntuli, one of the five men on trial for the killing of Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, refused to come to court, claiming he had been tortured overnight by prison officials.

It’s the latest twist in a trial already riddled with drama, delays and high-profile controversy. But this time, the finger isn’t pointed at police investigators or courtroom procedure, it’s aimed squarely at the correctional system.

‘They tortured me’: Accused refuses to appear in court

Speaking through his legal team, Ntuli alleged that prison officials at the high-security C-Max section of Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre beat and mistreated him on Tuesday night. He claimed the mistreatment followed what he calls a fabricated incident, where officials accused him of being found with a mobile phone earlier this month.

According to Ntuli, the July 8 search was a setup, and after the phone was “planted” on him, he was transferred to the notoriously strict C-Max facility. There, he says, he was denied access to his family and lawyer, and had his personal belongings like blankets and sheets taken away.

These explosive allegations led to his refusal to be transported to court, delaying proceedings in a case that South Africans have been following for nearly a decade.

Correctional Services fires back: ‘A manipulation tactic’

But Correctional Services isn’t buying it.

Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson for the department, dismissed Ntuli’s version outright, calling the torture claims “baseless” and part of a growing pattern of inmates trying to game the system.

“Inmate Fisokuhle Ntuli was found in possession of a mobile phone during a routine operation led by the National Commissioner,” Nxumalo said. “He admitted to owning and using it. That’s a serious violation. Full stop.”

Nxumalo confirmed that the confiscated phone was handed over to police for forensic investigation. Because of Ntuli’s actions and what officials called his “risk profile,” he was moved to the C-Max unit.

“Let’s not blur the line between rights and responsibilities,” Nxumalo added. “Some inmates are weaponising human rights language to dodge consequences. That’s dishonest and undermines real struggles for justice.”

A trial with no shortage of drama

This is far from the first dramatic moment in the long-running Meyiwa case.

Since the trial resumed in July 2023 with a new judge, it’s seen everything from bombshell testimonies to claims of cover-ups. And on Thursday, the State is expected to close its case, wrapping up over a year of witness presentations.

For the public, the spectacle continues. On social media, reactions were split. Some users expressed sympathy, calling for an independent probe into Ntuli’s claims. Others saw it as yet another stall tactic in a case that has seen far too many.

One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote:
“This case is turning into a circus. Every time there’s progress, something pulls it back. If he’s lying, charge him too.”

Meyiwa’s legacy still looms large

Senzo Meyiwa was gunned down in October 2014 at the Vosloorus home of his then-girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo. What was initially thought to be a botched robbery has since spiraled into one of South Africa’s most sensational murder trials, with conspiracy theories, claims of police misconduct, and questions about Khumalo’s role.

Ntuli, already convicted in unrelated hitman cases, is one of five men accused of carrying out the murder. With the State’s case set to conclude, the trial is now at a critical juncture.

But just as it seemed to be reaching a turning point, these torture claims have once again thrown the spotlight off the facts and onto the chaos surrounding them.

Whether Fisokuhle Ntuli’s claims hold any truth or not, they’ve injected fresh tension into an already charged courtroom. As the Meyiwa family and the country await justice, one can only hope that the trial’s end is near and that the real story isn’t lost beneath headlines and allegations.

{Source: The Citizen}

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