Ntanzi denies waiving right to silence in Meyiwa trial

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.

Accused No. 2 in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Bongani Ntanzi, has refuted claims that he waived his right to remain silent and voluntarily made statements implicating himself in the killing of the former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa.

Ntanzi has been responding to questions from the state prosecutor in the High Court in Pretoria, where he and four others are on trial for the 2014 murder of Meyiwa.

State Prosecutor George Baloyi says Ntanzi made admissions to lead investigator Bongani Gininda after his arrest, when his alibi could not be verified.

Ntanzi: There’s no warning that I was given. Given the issue of Section 35, it’s something that I heard for the first time here.

Baloyi: Then he proceeds, it was clear, my lord, that he is prepared to talk to me without an attorney. He did not choose the right to remain silent and he did not elect to remain silent.

Ntanzi: I was never asked those questions, my lord.