Second accused in Meyiwa trial rejects ‘nkabi’ characterisation

A man holds a framed picture of South African national soccer team goalkeeper and captain, Senzo Meyiwa during his funeral service in Durban November 1, 2014.

Second accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Bongani Ntanzi, says he feels insulted by allegations that he is an assassin. Ntanzi has been on the stand at the High Court in Pretoria, testifying in his defence.

He and four others are on trial for the 2014 murder of the Bafana Bafana captain. It is alleged that Ntanzi is one of the assassins hired by Meyiwa’s former girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo.

Responding to his defence counsel, Sipho Ramosepele, Ntanzi rejected these claims.

Ramosepele: Were you a hired assassin before you were arrested? Were you a Nkabi before you were arrested?

Ntanzi: In my language, when you refer to me in that particular name, you are actually insulting me, my lord. I’ve never been a hired assassin. Even my father never referred to me as such. At home, he refers me to as a boy, as I am a boy.