The five men accused of killing Senzo Meyiwa. (Photo by Phill Magakoe/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
The second accused in the Senzo Meyiwa trial, Bongani Ntanzi, testified that it broke his heart to narrate his alleged brutal assault and being made to sign an already-written confession.
During cross-examination in the Pretoria high court on Tuesday, Ntanzi said he was suffocated with a plastic bag until he became tired, gave up and signed the ready-made confession he said was prepared by police officers. The alleged torture occurred in June 2020.
“This is their document. I have nothing to do with this document,” an adamant Ntanzi said under cross-examination by state prosecutor Ronnie Sibanda.
“A plastic bag was put on my head and I could not breathe. They would stop and ask if I was still being stubborn, then continue tubing me. I am human and I got tired and signed.”
He added: “I do not wish this on anyone. That is why I even said God should bless them.”
Ntanzi is the defence’s second witness in the trial within a trial to determine whether confessions made by him and accused number one, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, are admissible.
The two, together with Mthobisi Ncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Ntuli, are accused of killing the footballer at the home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, on 26 October 2014 in Vosloorus, Gauteng. All five have pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, illegal possession of a firearm and the illegal possession of ammunition.
On Tuesday, Sibanda read from the court transcripts of 26 of October 2023 when defence advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, representing Ntanzi and Sibiya, put a version to a witness, Colonel Mohale Raphadu, related to Ntanzi’s alleged assault.
Mngomezulu told Raphadu that Ntanzi was allegedly assaulted to the point when police officers thought the accused was dead. But Ntanzi disputed his lawyer’s version of events.
“I believe that never came out of my mouth. I would not be able to respond to what Mr Mngomezulu said. I would not be able to speak on behalf of him, but if the court were to see the clothes I was wearing that day, [it] would see that it happened,” Ntanzi responded to Sibanda.
The prosecutor said Ntanzi was lying about the version of events and “fabricating” his evidence.
In response, Ntanzi said: ‘My lord, it did happen. The prosecutor was not there.”
Sibanda told Ntanzi that the occurrence book at the police station where he was detained made no mention of injuries from the assault.
Ntanzi said all the information was recorded in the occurrence book in his absence and police officers could have written anything that suited them.
“My lord, in all the facilities I have been detained at, I have never been checked on. I only experienced being checked on yesterday [Monday] at Kgosi Mampuru [prison],” Ntanzi added.