/ 7 April 1999

POLICE CONFUSION IN NTINI CASE

IT took the police four attempts to record the correct version of the claims made by a woman alleging she was raped by national cricketer Makhaya Ntini, the East London Regional Court heard on Tuesday. Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Edward Ntakana said the first statement was lost when his notebook was stolen out of his car. This resulted in three further statements being made by the woman over four months. When asked why there were discrepancies in the statements and the testimony the alleged victim gave in court, Ntakana said mistakes were made because his command of English is poor. A 22-year-old East London woman is claiming Ntini raped her in a toilet on December 2.