Ex-staffer in Jayde testimony

CHRISTOPHER Panayiotou’s ex-employee Mawonga Ndedwa “nailed” the businessman in the Port Elizabeth High Court yesterday when he recalled how he had stumbled upon R30 000 in the OK Grocer storeroom and was told by his boss that he should pass the money on to Luthando Siyoni. Ndedwa, a State witness, testified in the trial against Panayiotou and his two co-accused, Sinethemba Nenembe and Zolani Sibeko. The State alleges Panayiotou paid Luthando Siyoni, a bouncer from his Infinity nightclub, to hire hitman Sizwe Vumazonke to kidnap and kill his wife Jayde. Ndedwa said Panayiotou used his cellphone to call Siyoni, and later Panayiotou instructed him to destroy the device. “Chris told me (my) phone would cause police to be after me.” During crossexamination, defence advocate Terry Price said Ndedwa’s testimony was “laughable lies” and that Ndedwa had been fired by the Panayiotous for stealing. He said Ndedwa gave police a statement only because he wanted to “nail” Panayiotou. The trial continues. – ANA