Senzo Meyiwa. (Getty Images)
Senzo Meyiwa’s friend Tumelo Madlala remains adamant that accused number two, Bongani Ntanzi, was the armed assailant who fought with the footballer before he was shot on 26 October 2014 in Vosloorus, Gauteng.
On Thursday during his cross-examination by defence advocate Zandile Mshololo, Madlala, who is the seventh state witness, told the Pretoria high court that he could clearly see that Ntanzi was at the house when Meyiwa was killed.
This comes after Madlala singled out Ntanzi on Monday as the gunman who scuffled with Meyiwa before the fatal shot was fired.
“This person, I once met before. I also remember him based on how his beard was trimmed and styled at the time,” Madlala said.
On Monday Advocate Sipho Ramosepele, representing Ntanzi, disputed Madlala’s description of Ntanzi’s appearance, noting that Ntanzi consistently appeared clean-shaven in court and had never sported a beard.
Mshololo asked Madlala to describe the distinctive features of the person he saw.
Madlala said: “He was tall, dark in complexion and had a round beard that was trimmed around the mouth.”
Mshololo asked Madlala why he was sure that only Ntanzi had those features.
“The reason I am asking this is because a person can be mistaken with identity, for now and in 20 years and in 100 years,” she said.
Madlala responded: “What you are saying is true, but you can never confuse my eyes. I can see him very clearly and he also knows. I cannot wrongly implicate another person.”
The murder trial started from scratch on 17 July, with Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng replacing Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela after the latter was suspended for misconduct for failing to deliver judgments within a reasonable period.
The five people on trial — Mthobisi Ncube, Ntanzi, Mthokozisi Maphisa, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya and Fisokuhle Ntuli — have pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, illegal possession of a firearm and the illegal possession of ammunition.