Johannesburg - Friends of Zamokuhle Mbatha, the man arrested in connection with the murder of Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, were among the 13 people police taken in for questioning.
The Star understands that the three friends were questioned at Vosloorus police station on Saturday – the day Meyiwa was buried in Durban.
They were released the next morning. It is understood that the questioning was to establish Mbatha’s whereabouts on Sunday, October 26, the night Meyiwa was shot dead.
He was arrested last Thursday and appeared in court on Friday. Mbatha was remanded in custody until November 11 to apply for a Legal Aid representative. He faces murder and robbery charges
Meyiwa died shortly after he was shot in the home of the mother of Kelly Khumalo, his girlfriend.
On Wednesday, Mbatha’s friends maintained his innocence, saying he didn’t resemble the man in the police identikit.
One friend said his arrest came as a shock to them.
“What proof do the police have to say it is him? We are shocked that they (police) were quick to even say it was him to the media,” said one of his friends.
The Star understands that Mbatha lost his job at a construction company at the Chris Hani Mall in Vosloorus about two weeks ago.
According to his girlfriend, who lives with him in a shack, Mbatha left with a neighbour to find work in Alberton last Monday morning, the day after Meyiwa was killed.
She said Mbatha had been at home at about 8pm on the day of the murder.
His family said police had acted under pressure to have him arrested. They said they found it strange that Mbatha, who was known to the Khumalos, was apprehended only four days later.
“Why was an identikit done if they knew him? Why couldn’t Kelly or her mom tell the police it was him?” a cousin asked.
“I don’t think this makes sense. My cousin used to wash both Senzo’s and Kelly’s cars. Does that make sense? If you know a person, it is easy to point him or her out,” said Mbatha’s cousin, who maintained his cousin was innocent.
“What we want is for the Khumalo family to tell the truth. They must say who did this horrible thing. I am also hurt by the death of Senzo. I am a Pirates fan,” he said, adding that police needed to investigate thoroughly.
They also maintained Mbatha did not resemble the picture on the identikit, as claimed by the police.
“He doesn’t have a gold tooth, and the hat on that picture… Police even gave out wrong information about him. He is 27 and not 25.”
They said they had learnt about Mbatha’s arrest from the media.
“The police said they were taking him for questioning. But were we shocked when we saw on TV that he was arrested and taken to court. This whole issue makes our family look bad to people, as if we have raised a thug,” his cousin said.
On Monday, the police told the media that they were confident Mbatha had played a role in the crime and asked that the media give them a chance to continue with their investigations.
The Star