From left to right; the interpreter and the five men accused of murdering Senzo Meyiwa (Bongani Ntanzi is the one wearing the blue T-shirt). Image: Nokwanda Ncwane/The South African.
Meyiwa trial: Bail hearing of accused 2, Bongani Ntanzi, postponed
The bail hearing of Bongani Ntanzi, accused 2 in the trial of the five men accused of murdering Senzo Meyiwa has been postponed, here’s why..
From left to right; the interpreter and the five men accused of murdering Senzo Meyiwa (Bongani Ntanzi is the one wearing the blue T-shirt). Image: Nokwanda Ncwane/The South African.
The bail application of accused 2 in the trial of the five men accused for the murder of soccer star, Senzo Meyiwa, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi has been postponed to 13 October 2022.
Ntanzi was set to make a bail application at the North Gauteng High Court where the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial sits on Thursday, 22 September 2022.
On Thursday, 15 September State witness and Meyiwa’s close friend Tumelo Madlala pointed out Ntanzi as one of the alleged intruders Meyiwa had pinned against the wall in the Vosloorus house where the late goalkeeper was shot on 26 October 2014 during an alleged robbery.
WHY WAS THE APPLICATION POSTPONED?
Defence counsel for accused 1 – 4, Timothy Thobane told The South African that the State only filed their heads of argument on Tuesday, 20 September around 17:00 and also find amended heads of arguments.
“The court decided that the matter must be moved because this is a complex matter and the court needs to go through all the documents before the matter sits,” he said.
WHO IS BONGANI NTANZI?
We have gathered some information and this is what we know about accused 2:
- Ntanzi is a 32-year-old from Phokeng in Rustenburg in the North West.
- He is a former miner who was previously employed at Sibanye Gold.
- Ntanzi is reportedly the only one amongst the five men who was without a criminal record nor a pending case, however, according to the SABC, Ntanzi is currently serving 35 years’ imprisonment for a 2014 murder and according to the statement by the Investigating Officer in the case, Colonel Bongani Gininda, the accused is said to have made confessions to the police and to a magistrate.
- The firearm used in the matter which he was convicted and sentenced in, was through ballistic tests, proven to be the same firearm used in the murder of the former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper.
The other accused are Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli. They face charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances, possession of firearms without a licence and possession of ammunition. All the five men pleaded not guilty.
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