Dr Johannes Steenkamp, a pathologist, confirmed Senzo Meyiwa’s cause of death before the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.
The seasoned pathologist provided a detailed report on the former Orlando Pirates star’s death, which occurred on October 26, 2014, in Vosloorus at the home of his then-girlfriend Kelly Khumalo.
The principal causes of death, according to the court, were severe blood loss and lung and heart damage.
He showed that Meyiwa was shot at close range, with the rifle presumably held against him at arm’s length – which is why the gun residue powder got into his flesh, leaving a wound that resembled a bullet entrance.
Dr. Steenkamp observed that the bullet had caused damage to Senzo Meyiwa’s right lung and heart tissues. According to him, the singer suffered from internal bleeding caused by damaged tissues around his heart.
Dr. Steenkamp surprised everyone when he disclosed that the severity of the wound only permitted Senzo Meyiwa to live for seconds or minutes, shutting out the idea of him living for hours.
“I think he was a fit young man,” Dr. Steenkamp stated. He would have probably lasted seconds, minutes, but not hours.”
During prior court appearances, Zandile Khumalo appeared to show that Senzo was alive when they transported him to the hospital.
He disproved witnesses’ claims that he was shot from behind. According to Dr. Steenkamp’s findings, he was shot from the front and at close range, probably an arm’s length.
