Brigadier Bongani Gininda’s testimony in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial cast doubt on Bongani Ntanzi’s defence, contradicting Ntanzi’s claims of forced confessions.
Brigadier Gininda testimony puts Ntanzi’s defence under the spotlight
The Pretoria High Court was the stage for a pivotal moment in the Senzo Meyiwa murder case, on Tuesday.
Brigadier Bongani Gininda, the lead investigator, provided testimony that directly challenged the defence of Bongani Ntanzi, one of the accused.
Gininda’s encounter with Colonel Mohale Raphadu, the officer responsible for recording Ntanzi’s confessional statement, became a crucial point of contention.
Contrary to Ntanzi’s claim that Gininda and Raphadu were both present during his alleged assault and forced signing of prepared declarations, Gininda revealed that his first meeting with Raphadu was solely to collect Ntanzi’s statement.
This revelation undermines Ntanzi’s narrative of coercion, suggesting that his confession might have been voluntary.
Gininda narrated his investigative efforts, including a trip to Carletonville to verify Ntanzi’s alibi at Sibanye Stillwater Mine, Ntanzi’s former workplace.
The inquiry revealed discrepancies in Ntanzi’s account of his whereabouts on the day of Meyiwa’s murder. Confronted with these inconsistencies and a sketch of a suspect resembling him, Ntanzi initially claimed mistaken identity but later confessed to Gininda.
According to Gininda, a significant turn occurred when Ntanzi expressed a desire to speak the truth, feeling that his lies were no longer sustainable.
He expressed his willingness to confess to an officer not involved in the investigation, leading Gininda to arrange for such an encounter. This moment marked a pivotal change in Ntanzi’s approach, potentially impacting his defence strategy.
The Senzo Meyiwa trial will resume with Brigadier Gininda back on the stand, on Wednesday.