Meyiwa trial: One of the accused willing to turn State witness, court told
Testifying before the court, Brigadier Bongani Gininda said that one of the accused, Bongani Ntanzi, had been cooperative with the police when he made his confession.
The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial resumed in the Pretoria High Court on 22 January 2024. Picture: Kgomotso Modise/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The investigating officer in the Senzo Meyiwa trial told the Pretoria High Court that one of the accused was so cooperative with the police when he made his confession, that he was even willing to turn into a State witness.
Brigadier Bongani Gininda, the lead investigator in the matter, is testifying on confession statements taken from Bongani Ntanzi and one of his co-accused.
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Ntanzi and Muzikawkhulelwa Sibiya distanced themselves from the confessions, saying they were beaten into signing them.
Five men are being tried for Meyiwa’s 2014 murder in Vosloorus, which the court has now heard was a contract killing.
At least two police officers described Ntanzi as cooperative and in good spirits following his arrest, with one of the investigators, Sergeant Vusumuzi Mogane, telling the court that he and Ntanzi were even talking like brothers.
On Monday, Gininda cemented this narrative and even added a crucial bit of information.
“When further proposing a plea bargaining that he will plead guilty and testify against his co-accused – that is the extent of the discussions between accused and the State.”
Despite Ntanzi’s denial, the State also insisted he was legally represented by a man known as Advocate Dominic Mjiyako.
On Monday, State Advocate George Baloyi handed over a document confirming Mjiyako’s enrolment as a lawyer, which he said Mjiyako produced for Gininda in 2020.