By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial was postponed to Thursday to allow defence counsels time to prepare for the new State witness.
Five men are on trial for the murder of the Bafana Bafana captain who was killed in 2014.
Meyiwa was at the home of Kelly Khumalo’s mother in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg when he was shot and killed.
On Tuesday, Jack Buthelezi – a friend of one of the accused – Bongani Ntanzi – told the court that Ntanzi told him they had injured and killed Meyiwa at a party.
However, he made an about turn during cross-examination and changed his statement.
State prosecutor George Baloyi sought clarity.
Advocate Baloyi: “Would you please clarify this aspect for us, in cross examination you mentioned that accused number 2 said the police said he killed Senzo. But in your evidence in chief, you said they killed Meyiwa. What did you say exactly?”
Buthelezi: “He said as I am being arrested now, the police said or the police allege that myself and my friends killed Meyiwa.’
The proceedings came to an abrupt halt this morning after the defence for the five accused took issue with a statement from a new witness.
It accused the state of only providing them with the statement at the eleventh hour.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng said the trial would resume on Thursday.
The defence teams for all five accused told the court that they would need the whole day to consult with their clients due to the witness statement only being handed to them on Tuesday evening.
The witness was only referred to as a Detective Zungu.
Advocate Baloyi told court he had also only received the statement on Tuesday evening.
He said the intention was not to catch the defence off-guard.
“The aim was never to catch the defence unaware. We also received the copy yesterday and dispatched it to my colleagues. I received it from the investigating team.”
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