Senzo Meyiwa – Write. Snap. Click.

NOTE: This article first appeared on The Citizen website on November 11, 2014.

The NPA has officially withdrawn the charges against Zamokuhle Mbatha, the 25-year-old man accused of killing Senzo Meyiwa.

Mbatha had his second appearance in the Boksburg Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning and the charges of murder and robbery were dropped against him within five minutes.

State prosecutor Gertrude Market requested that Mbatha’s appearance on Tuesday took place in absentia.

It became apparent why when Magistrate Daniel Thulare accepted the State’s request to withdraw the charges.Thulare said there was not enough evidence against Mbatha to carry on with his trial.

Mbatha’s family, who filled two benches in the packed court room, were overjoyed. Lindiwe Mbatha, his sister-in-law, said: “We knew they had the wrong person. He would never do something like this”.

The family left the court in song.

Mbatha will be released from police custody and investigations into Meyiwa’s killing will continue.

NOTE: Article first appeared on The Citizen website on November 4, 2014.

A crime prevention campaign launched by the ANC Youth League Tuesday, doubled up as a platform for the ‘bring back Bheki Cele’ campaign.

Bheki Cele, now deputy minister of agriculture and fisheries, was invited by the ANCYL in his capacity as an ANC national executive committee member. The event, hosted by the youth league, saw ‘Operation Wanya Tsotsi’, a call to reclaim the streeta being launched.

FILE PICTURE: Mourners call for the reinstatement of the country's former police chief Bheki Cele as they gather at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, 1 November 2014 for the funeral of slain Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa. Picture: Giordano Stolley/SAPA — FILE PICTURE: Mourners call for the reinstatement of the country’s former police chief Bheki Cele as they gather at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, 1 November 2014 for the funeral of slain Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa. Picture: Giordano Stolley/SAPA

The crowd erupted when Cele, dressed in all black with a signature hat, entered the Vosloorus Civic Centre. A group shouted “bring back Bheki” when a question on how to fight crime was asked.

Cele called on the youth to channel the anger the country has over crime to start fighting it. “We must organise to close and squeeze the space for criminals”.

He added that communities should come together to expose criminals. “You know these people. Criminals like to talk about their loot, their money and their girls but you choose to keep quiet.”

The crime fighting campaign came after the shooting and killing of Bafana Bafana captain and Orlando Pirates goalie, Senzo Meyiwa, last week.

Cele’s attendance was seemingly in line with the call from aggrieved fans who asked for the former police commissioner to be brought back to fight crime. The informal campaign was trending on social network Twitter under the hastag #bringbackbhekicele last week:

Retweet to the rest of South Africa #BringBackBhekiCele http://t.co/37JF6v5oxL—
Dj SOX #Iwish (@Dogg_Dbn) October 27, 2014

#BringBackBhekiCele the General did his job very well, the whole building issue can't stand over the fact that crime rates where decreasing

— Ralph Mahlaba (@DjMcRoyal) November 3, 2014

my @SAPresident, why is it so important to DA_News & its media sponsors that you disregard this groundswell plea to #BringBackBhekiCele?

— the renegade saint (@VuyoMkhize) October 31, 2014

Bheki Cele was not called Ndosi for nothing. It was the effectiveness in crime busting he had on the streets #BringBackBhekiCele

— Ella WoMpofu (@ellam304) October 31, 2014

https://twitter.com/Sgebzzz/status/528062660831485952

Tag: Senzo Meyiwa

VIDEO: Charges withdrawn in Meyiwa suspect

Is ANCYL backing #BringBackBhekiCele?