By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Pretoria High Court has heard a recording of one of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial accusing his then-lawyer of wanting him to plead guilty to the murder of the Bafana Bafana captain.
Audio recordings of proceedings from the Boksburg Magistrates Court where the accused first appeared have been played in court.
The defence is looking to prove that Bongani Ntanzi was never represented by the lawyer who has been linked to him – Dominic Mjiyako.
Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu said on Thursday Ntanzi had tried to get the attention of the magistrate to tell him Mjiyako did not represent him, but his attempts failed.
Ntanzi, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli are on trial for the murder of footballer Senzo Meyiwa. Meyiwa was shot dead at his then girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s mother’s home in Vosloorus on October 26 2014.
The accused have pleaded not guilty.
Three recordings of proceedings in the lower court were obtained and played in the high court on Friday as per the court’s order.
In the tape of the magistrate’s court proceedings of October 27 2020, prosecutor advocate George Baloyi places on record that Ntanzi is represented by Mjiyako while the other accused are not represented.
Ntanzi tries to address the court, but the magistrate reminds him he is legally represented and his lawyer should do the talking, referring to Mjiyako.
Mjiyako then speaks on behalf of Ntanzi, mentioning he will not apply for bail.
In another audio clip, from March 5 2021, Baloyi tells the court Mjiyako is withdrawing as Ntanzi’s lawyer as he hands a letter from Mjiyako to the court.
Mjiyako was not present in court on the day.
Addressing the court, Ntanzi says in IsiZulu Mjiyako wanted him to admit to the murder, hence he “ran away”.
He elected to appoint a legal aid lawyer.
Mjiyako is the lawyer who represented him when he allegedly made a confession before a magistrate and was part of a plea bargain process.
The audio recordings also revealed Ntanzi and Mncube raised concerns about alleged assault and torture while in prison.
Baloyi said the transcript of the proceedings will be made available on Monday.
The matter will resume on Tuesday to allow the defence to go through the transcripts.
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Video Courtesy of SABC.