Court hears recordings of Ntanzi accusing his then-lawyer of wanting him to plead guilty to murdering Meyiwa
The defence insists that one of the accused, Bongani Ntanzi, refused to have the man believed to be his lawyer, represent him at his first court appearance.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng presides over the re-start of the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial on 17 July 2023. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey Makhaza/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Pretoria High Court has heard a recording of one of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial accusing his then-lawyer of wanting him to plead guilty to the murder of the Bafana Bafana captain.
Audio recordings of proceedings from the Boksburg Magistrates Court where the accused first appeared have been played in court.
The defence is looking to prove that Bongani Ntanzi was never represented by the lawyer who has been linked to him – Dominic Mjiyako.
It's almost 10 years Since Meyiwa was murdered at the home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, in what police believe was a hit.
The Pretoria High Court spent Friday morning listening to recordings of proceedings at the Boksburg Magistrates Court when all five accused appeared three times before the matter was transferred to a high court.
In a sitting from 5 March 2021, Advocate George Baloyi could be heard informing the court that Mjiyako would no longer be representing Ntanzi.
In a letter read by Baloyi, Mjiyako confirmed that Ntanzi terminated their mandate, which suggests that he was acting on his instructions previously.
This is in stark contrast to Ntanzi’s current version that he was never represented by Mjiyako.
A recording from the same day was also played in court, where Ntanzi can be heard telling the court that his lawyer wants him to plead guilty to the murder of Senzo Meyiwa.
The matter has been postponed to Tuesday to allow for the State to source transcripts of those proceedings from the Boksburg Magistrates Court.