Cape Town – The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial is making inroads after a state witness reportedly pointed out one of the five accused as one of the “robbers” who killed the former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper.
The state witness, Tumelo Madlala, made the revelation on Thursday during the court proceedings at the Pretoria High Court.
Madlala identified Bongani Ntanzi, from Rustenburg in the North West as the man who was in a scuffle with Meyiwa before the fatal shooting, TimesLIVE reported.
Ntanzi was allegedly the second intruder who stormed into the Vosloorus house in October 2014 where the soccer star was murdered, the report said.
He allegedly demanded money and cell phones before he was pinned against the wall by the former goalie.
The report said that Madlala previously testified that he was not in the room when the gunshots went off, and so he could not identify who pulled the trigger.
“In my (pre-trial witness) statement I explained if I were to see the person, I would be able to point the person out.
“I am here telling something I know happened in my presence. If you have seen someone before, if you meet the person again, it won’t be difficult for you to recognise the person. And I wouldn’t lie about a person in a matter like this,” the report quoted Madlala as saying
#BREAKING#SenzoMeyiwatrial
Tumelo Madlala points out accused number 2 Bongani Ntanzi as one of the intruders. He says he was the one that Senzo had pinned against the wall.Ntanzi is the one in the Blue shirt in the video below.@ewnreporter pic.twitter.com/mM4Dd06s3T
— Rakgadi? (@motso_modise) September 15, 2022
The defense lawyers objected to the identification of the accused, arguing that Madlala was unreliable, as he could not identify one of the men who shot and killed the soccer star on Wednesday, reported IOL.
“The State asked you whether you are in a position to identify any of the suspects before court,” the report said Madlala was asked.
Madlala responded saying he would have mentioned it yesterday (Wednesday) if he had been allowed, the report said.
“That’s why I asked for a break because I was annoyed to be in the same room as that person,” the report quoted Madlala as saying.
Tshepo Thobane, who’s representing four of the accused, said there was no point of the identification question, as his clients were not taken to an identity parade.
The trial continued, with the media being ordered not to film the witness as he testified, the report said.
Meyiwa was gunned down at his then girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo’s home in Vosloorus, Gauteng on the evening of October 26, 2014.
Six years later, in 2020, Muzikawukhulelwa S’Tembu Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Ziphozonke Maphisa, and Fisokuhle Ntuli were arrested.
The men were charged with murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
