By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The youngest of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has been described as a well-known gun supplier in a statement read in the Pretoria High Court.
The statement revealed that accused two, Bongani Ntanzi, was a gun smuggler and allegedly killed a union member in Marikana.
The morning started with delays, leading to the court resuming at 2 pm.
The delays were due to a 70-page affidavit brought by lead investigator Brigadier Bongani Gininda, which revealed that Meyiwa’s murder was a contract killing rather than a robbery gone wrong as previously claimed.
Ntanzi, was implicated in the affidavit read by Gininda, written by Simphiwe Buthelezi, who stated that Ntanzi was a known hitman and gun supplier to hitmen across the country.
Buthelezi, who passed away in 2022, detailed a conversation where Ntanzi spoke to accused four, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, about a successful operation in killing a union member in Marikana.
“He invited me to visit him where I overheard him talking to (accused four, Mthokoziseni) Maphisa that they did a good job by killing a union member in Marikana,” he said.
He said Ntanzi also kept guns on the roof of the house where he was staying.
“I heard the person which was killed is very powerful. I asked him has he started killing people. He said it’s a man’s job to make a better life. I warned him about it,” the affidavit read.
He said Ntanzi invited him where he stayed in Rustenburg.
“Bongani Mafika Ntanzi invited me to visit him in Rustenburg at Phokeng where I overheard him talking over the phone with Maphisa that they did a good job by killing a union member in Marikana,” the affidavit read.
Gininda is expected to return to the stand on Wednesday, 24 January.
Meyiwa was shot dead in the presence of his then girlfriend Kelly Khumalo at her mother’s home in Vosloorus in October 2014. Also present were Kelly’s sister Zandile, her boyfriend Longwe Twala, the two women’s mother Ntombi Khumalo and two of Meyiwa’s friends visiting from KwaZulu-Natal.
The occupants claimed Meyiwa was killed by one of two intruders who barged into the home and demanded cellphones and money.
Mthobisi Mncube, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Ntanzi, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli are on trial for Meyiwa’s murder. They have pleaded not guilty.
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