Legitimacy of lawyer linked to Senzo Meyiwa murder accused back in focus
The name Dominic Mjiyako is a familiar one in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, as he was the lawyer on record for one of the accused, Bongani Ntanzi.
The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial resumed in the Pretoria High Court on 22 January 2024. Picture: Kgomotso Modise/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The legitimacy of the lawyer linked to one of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial returned to the fore in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday.
The court is still hearing a trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of confession statements by two of the accused in connection with the footballer’s murder.
The defence insists one of the accused, Bongani Ntanzi, refused to have the man believed to be his lawyer represent him at his first court appearance.
The name Dominic Mjiyako is a familiar one in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, as he was the lawyer on record for one of the accused, Bongani Ntanzi.
Ntanzi has since distanced himself from Mjiyako, denying that he was ever his legal representative.
While Mjiyako was on record as Ntanzi’s lawyer during his first appearance for the murder of Meyiwa in the Boksburg Magistrates Court, his lawyers now want to bring an application to have a recording played in court.
They believe that recording, from televised proceedings, proves that Ntanzi distanced himself from Mjiyako.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng made an order regarding this.
"All counsels, this court orders that you must prepare heads of argument regarding the fact whether a video televised process in this court is evidence in terms of our law."
The State has also been ordered to secure the official transcripts of proceedings on that day.