By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
An officer who escorted Bongani Ntanzi when he made his alleged confession denies that the Senzo Meyiwa murder accused was assaulted.
The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria continued to hear evidence from Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer Wendell Jonathan during his cross-examination.
A trial-within-a-trial is taking place to determine the admissibility of confession statements, pointing out and warning statements by the five accused men in the main trial.
Jonathan testified, in his evidence-in-chief, that he helped police escort Ntanzi to Moroka Police Station in Soweto, where the accused made a confession statement before Colonel Moholo Solomon Raphadu on 19 June 2020.
Days later, he transported Ntanzi from a police station in Pretoria to the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court, where he allegedly made a second confession before Magistrate Vivian Cronje.
The officer has denied that he assaulted the suspect as alleged by the defence.
During proceedings, Jonathan told the court he received a call from his immediate supervisor, Superintendent Vishan Singh to participate in the escort a day before Ntanzi’s confession was took place.
The EMPD officer said Sergeant Vusimuzi Mogane had sent the request to Singh.
“Was there a written permission for you to go and provide services to the Saps [South African Police Service] on the 19th of June?” Advocate Zandile Mshololo asked.
“No my Lord,” Jonathan responded.
He explained that he was given instructions verbally.
“I would say telephonically as the supervisor then informed us that we will be conducting an escort the next day,” the witness said.
Jonathan said it was not the first time that the Saps had requested the services of the EMPD.
The EMPD officer rejected Mshololo’s suggestion that handing over a suspect to a Saps officer was not part of his duties.
It is part of my duties as we are not just limited to escorting. We are required to safeguard the suspect and the investigating officers. Me handing over the suspect was merely the fact that my assistance was required from Sergeant Mogane. He could have asked any other officer,” Jonathan told the court.
The court will continue on Tuesday.
It was adjourned early to allow the defence to peruse the itinerary of the vehicle use on 19 June.
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