By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Today, October 26, marked exactly nine years since the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa was shot and killed at his girlfriend home in Vosloorus.
A third State witness has described Bongani Ntanzi’s demeanour as free and happy when he made confession statements on the murder of Meyiwa.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohale Raphadu, who wrote down Ntanzi’s alleged confession, told the Pretoria High Court on Thursday that the accused looked “free and happy” when handed over to him in June 2020.
“What I can say is that when he was brought to me, and I asked him about being assaulted, he never mentioned anything to me about being assaulted. He was just free and a happy person.”
He was first arrested on 16 June 2020 but was only formally charged with Meyiwa’s murder in October 2024 alongside four other accused.
Ntanzi’s legal counsel, who also represents accused number one Muzi Sibiya, told the court that his client was coerced into making a confession.
Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu claimed Ntanzi was “tubed” with a silver plastic bag into admitting details of the night Meyiwa was shot and killed in 2014.
Mngomezulu said the torture happened in Alberton.
“He was tubed, tortured and assaulted by Mabena, Buthelezi and Jonathan.”
Legal analyst Nthabiseng Dubazana of Dubazana Attorneys said that any evidence obtained before an accused had his rights read out to him could be deemed inadmissible by a court of law.
Meanwhile, Raphadu told the court that he did not explain to the accused that he was innocent until proven guilty by a court of law and that the confession did not equate to a conviction. He had also conducted the confession without the use of an interpreter, though he told the court he was competent in IsiZulu.
“My understanding is that the confession was still going to be put before a court; I did not presume anything based on the confession,” said Raphadu.
Mngomezulu also said Ntanzi’s first confession was not taken at the Moroka police station, but it had come with investigating officer Brigadier Bongani Gininda, who came with an already-filled confession that was signed and thumb-printed in an open area next to a dump in Orlando.
Raphadu said he had no knowledge of this, and Mngomezulu said the rest of the thumb printing was completed at an office at the Moroka police station.
“He did not make a statement freely and voluntarily append a signature on the statement. He was coerced to append a signature,” said Mngomezulu.
Ntanzi and his co-accused – Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Ntuli – are on trial for his murder.
They face charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of ammunition.
The trial will continue on Friday when Raphadu is expected to conclude his testimony.
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