The Senzo Meyiwa trial within trial has adjourned until next week Tuesday at the High Court in Pretoria. Five men are on trial for the murder of the former Bafana Bafana captain who was shot and killed in 2014 while at Kelly Khumalo’s parental home in Vosloorus on Gauteng’s East Rand.
The court heard audio recordings from the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court where all five accused appeared on several occasions from October 2020 until 05 March 2021.
On Thursday, defence counsel Thalani Mngomezulu told the court that accused number 2 Bongani Ntanzi did not know who Mr Mjiyako is, the man the state says was the one representing Ntanzi following his arrest in June 2020.
The state says Mr Mjiyako was present when Ntanzi made the second confession on the 24 June and when he appeared at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court. However, the defence requested for the recordings of those court appearances and they were played in court.
During the first appearance 27 October 2020, State Prosecutor George Baloyi can be heard saying Ntanzi is being represented by Mjiyako and again on the 27 November the same year.
While the recordings from 5 March 2021, Advocate George Baloyi can be heard telling the court that Mjiyako is withdrawing as Ntanzi’s lawyer. Subsequent to that, Ntanzi saying in the audio clip that Mjiyako wanted him to admit to the murder.
Due to the bad quality of the recording, Advocates Baloyi requested a postponement.
” The transcript will only be available on Monday next week and we’ve agreed with my colleagues that in light of the fact that there are certain inaudible portions that the matter, stand down until Monday, so that the transcripts can be obtained.”
Judge Ratha Mokgatlheng says the defence should be furnished with the transcripts before the next court appearance.
“I suggest let’s postpone this matter up to Tuesday, because I don’t want us to come on Monday and hear stories. We can postpone the matter to Tuesday because according to you the transcripts will only be furnished on Monday. So, Monday if they are furnished, you’ve got to read those transcripts, Tuesday we proceed with this matter.”
The trial within a trial is expected to continue Tuesday.
