Meyiwa trial: Defence questions cellphone data presented in court

JOHANNESBURG - The defence in the Senzo Meyiwa trial has questioned the links drawn between the accused by cellphone data presented in court.

State witness Lieutenant Colonel Gideon Gouws spent the day testifying on data found on phones linked to two of the accused.

Five men are being tried for Meyiwa’s 2014 murder in what police believe was a hit.

The testimony of Gouws has established direct links between all of the accused at unspecified times – through cellphone communication.

READ: Meyiwa trial: Cellphone data shows Ntanzi downloaded gun pictures, uploaded WhatsApp statuses while in custody

It has also suggested that the second accused Bongani Ntanzi was using his phone while in police custody after his arrest in June 2020 - which he has denied.

Thulani Mngomezulu - the lawyer for the first accused - Muzi Sibiya has challenged the data presented by Gouws.

"What makes you give this evidence that this number is attached to Muzi Sibiya."

Gouws: "I have testified already, that this number was identified through True Caller, Section 205 and during arrest for a Tembisa number, a Samsung with this number was found in his possession."

Meanwhile, as the State draws a web linking the accused - some of whom denied knowing each other.

The men have spent the day quietly in conversation while in the dock – commenting on the evidence led.