New witness set to testify for Bongani Ntanzi in Meyiwa murder trial

File: The late Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain, Senzo Meyiwa.

A new witness is expected to take the stand on behalf of accused number two, Bongani Ntanzi, in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial at the High Court in Pretoria on Monday.

This comes after Ntanzi’s second witness, Mbhekiseni Ntanzi, concluded his evidence-in-chief, denying claims that he informed anyone about Ntanzi’s alleged involvement in the murder of Senzo Meyiwa.

Ntanzi and four co-accused are on trial for the 2014 murder of former Bafana Bafana captain, who was shot and killed at the home of singer Kelly Khumalo’s mother in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg.

Mbhekiseni Ntanzi testified that he and accused number two share the same father but have different mothers.

Ntanzi rejected claims contained in an alleged statement by Absolom Zungu, which was read out in court.

Defence Counsel Sipho Ramosepele: Did you tell Mr Absolom Zungu from your own mouth about your other brother telling you that you would not fight Mafika, but you’d rather report him to the police for involvement in the murder of Senzo Meyiwa?”

Ntanzi: No.

Ramosepele: Did you from your own mouth and words tell Mr Absolom Zungu that Muzi Sibiya and Bongani Ntanzi are the ones involved in the murder of Senzo Meyiwa?

Ntanzi: No, I didn’t.

Ramosepele says the defence is still consulting with additional witnesses and engaging the state regarding subpoenas for certain police officers expected to testify.

“It’s about future witnesses. We have engaged with our colleagues from the state to assist us with certain witnesses who are police officers regarding the issuing of subpoenas for those witnesses. We are going to consult with them this afternoon and we’ll be glad to squeeze them in next week. Then we will temporarily close the case for accused number two, pending other evidence that we are still pursuing. I can be open with the court regarding Capitec, for example, because they have still not come back to us. Maybe then I can request the court for an order that somebody from Capitec come and testify regarding the account of accused number two.”

The matter is expected to continue in the High Court in Pretoria next week where the defence may call additional witnesses in support of Ntanzi before possibly closing its case.