Cops nabbed wrong man, court hears

Bongani Ntanzi, one of the accused in the murder case of former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, stepped onto the witness stand for the first time yesterday, claiming the police had “mistakenly” identified him.

The police referred to him as “Siyanda” when they arrived to apprehend him at his home in Freedom Park, the High Court in Pretoria heard.

According to previous testimony, Ntanzi was being investigated in connection to Meyiwa’s murder when it was discovered that he was a suspect in a drug-dealing case in Vosloorus and a murder case in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, prior to his arrest on 16 June, 2020.

The accused was apprehended in Phokeng, North West, by Sergeant Vusimuzi Mogane, who was accompanied by the late Sergeant Steven Mabena.

The accused yesterday told the court Mogane requested his ID card before he took two of his cellphones.

“He looked at the phones, took out his phone, made a call and then my phone rang. That’s when he said go and get dressed, we are looking for you,” Ntanzi said.

He insisted that Mabena slapped him in the face for asking questions as he was being handcuffed by Mogane.

“I kept on asking as to what is happening. Mabena then said to me I should not ask them sh*t.”

Ntanzi denied Mogane’s evidence that he was arrested for the Nongoma murder. “I heard that for the first time here in court.”

The accused then told the court about a three-hour interview that took place in a boardroom at Pretoria North police station on 17 June.

He testified lead investigator Brigadier Bongani Gininda, Sergeant Bathobakae Mogola as well as Mogane and Mabena were present during the interview.

“Gininda then asked me where I was in October [2014]. I said I can’t remember as to where I was because I am employed and I also like to go home.”

The court previously heard that Gininda was not present on the day.

Ntanzi claimed Gininda instructed him to take off his upper body clothes and shoes.

“Mabena then looked at me and asked if I ever had tattoos and whether have I ever been arrested. I said to him it’s the very first time I have been arrested and I had never had tattoos.”

Earlier, Ntanzi maintained that he received a call from Mogola a week before his arrest.

According to the accused, Mogola offered him a job before the police officer informed him about being wanted in connection to Meyiwa’s murder.

The trial continues.