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Senzo Meyiwa: The first suspect

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26 September
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น๐˜† ๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐Ÿฏ ๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฏ. It has resonated across South Africa for years: the 2014 murder of Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa in his girlfriendโ€™s house in Vosloorus. This week, the pathologist who examined Meyiwaโ€™s lifeless body detailed the last moments of the popular soccer playerโ€™s life. But the shooting didnโ€™t just end Meyiwaโ€™s life: it forever changed the life of another young man from the community. Days after the brutal killing, police rounded up Zamo Mbatha, the first suspect in Meyiwaโ€™s murder. Mbatha was detained for two weeks before the court abruptly ordered his release; police did not have enough evidence to link him to the case. But it was too late for Mbatha. With many still believing that he was Meyiwaโ€™s killer, his life was altered. Ten years later, as five other men stand trial for Meyiwaโ€™s murder, Mbathaโ€™s multi-million rand lawsuit against the police has come to a standstill. Carte Blanche examines how his wrongful arrest as the first suspect shattered his world. Your favourite episodes are now available on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv
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Murder: Unresolved
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น๐˜† ๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐Ÿฏ ๐——๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฏ. In October 2021, a frantic call from a distraught husband sent emergency services and police to Pastor Liezel de Jagerโ€™s house. But it was already too late. Liezel was found strangled outside her Amanzimtoti home. Her father, Henk van Zyl - a former detective - made over 90 calls to police for feedback but, for two years, the investigation stalledโ€ฆ until civil rights organisation, Action Society, got involved. With increased pressure and media attention, police finally arrested a suspect last week. Itโ€™s an all-too-familiar picture: a case that clearly illustrates the fallout from an overburdened detective service unable to keep up with South Africaโ€™s ever-soaring crime rates. According to the policeโ€™s own latest statistics, just under 12.5 percent of the countryโ€™s murders are solved. As families mourning the brutal deaths of their loved ones wait months or even years for closure, does the answer lie in watchdog organisations that effectively privatise the investigation and prosecution of crime? Carte Blanche investigates. Your favourite episodes are now available on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv