RECAP |Meyiwa lead investigator returns to the stand

The lead investigator in the Senzo Meyiwa murder returns to the stand in the Pretoria high court.

Officer Brigadier Bongani Gininda revealed that one of the accused, Muzi Sibiya, allegedly offered to point out the crime scene to the police in 2020, after he allegedly implicated himself in the crime.

Gininda's evidence is part of a trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of two confession statements by two of the accused.

Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Ntuli are on trial for the former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper's murder.

They face charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.

They have all pleaded not guilty.

15:30 - Court adjourns for the day. Brig Gininda will return to the stand  on Thursday to continue cross-examination.

Adv Mngomezulu questions Brig Gininda if he was aware of section 219 prior to questioning Sibiya. Gininda explains that he is aware of the section however it does not apply in the matter as there was only one confession, which was made by accused 1.

15:23 - Adv Mngomezulu refers to section 219 in the Criminal Acts Procedure which relates to admissions/confessions by suspects and reads, "No confession by made any person shall be admissible in evidence against another person."

15:13 - Following questions by Adv Mngomezulu, Brig Gininda explains to the court the rights he recited to Sibiya (accused no 1) prior to questioning which included the right to remain silent, and the right to avoid self-incrimination. 

14:50 - Adv Mngomezulu asks Gininda whether Sibiya was interviewed on the Senzo Meyiwa case when he was arrested, Brig Ginninda said he won't dispute that as the accused was a person of interest in other cases too.

14:40 - Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng asks Adv Mngomezulu whether he wants to postpone the cross-examination to afford him time to read through the exhibit relating to accused no 1's arrest. The advocate declines and explains that he will continue on other matters.

Adv asks who decided to charge the accused. "There was a decision a indict all of them by Director of Public Prosecutions," said Brig Gininda

Brig Gininda explains that accused no 1 was arrested on 26 October 2020 and appeared before the court the next day (27 October 2020)

Adv Mngomezulu asked when was accused number 1 charged on this matter

14:18 - Brig Gininda: No, there was no pressure. What was required of us, is regularly briefings to the family.

Adv Mngomezulu: Was there any pressure from the National government to finalise the case?

Brig Gininda: "It falls under the category of unsolved matters and it was the Commissioner who requested that I investigate."

Adv Mngomezulu questions Brig Gininda to explain which category the Meyiwa case fell under.

14:13 - Adv Thulani Mngomezulu, who represents accuseds 1 and 2, questions Brig Gininda on the work done by the Cold Case Unit which Gininda headed in 2021.

14:06 - Court resumes after this morning's adjournment  

12:56 - The police have issued a statement indicating that prison warden, Vusi Jele, has opened a case of assault against accused number 3, 4 and number 5.

 This follows a scuffle that broke out in court on Monday morning.

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