Hostile witness arrested for perjury at Panayiotou trial

LUTHANDO Siyoni’s girlfriend, Babalwa Breakfast was yesterday declared a hostile witness in the Port Elizabeth High Court. Shortly after being excused from the stand, she was seen being escorted by police officials to the court’s holding cells.

Breakfast was testifying in the trial involving Christopher Panayiotou and his two co-accused Sinethemba Nenembe and Zolani Sibeko. Crying hysterically, she hid her face from the media as she was led away by police officers.

Siyoni was employed by Panayiotou as a bouncer at his Infinity nightclub. The State alleges Panayiotou paid Siyoni to hire hitman Sizwe Vumazonke to kidnap and murder Jayde Panayiotou in April last year.

Under cross examination yesterday, Breakfast was questioned by defence advocate Terry Price. At one point she broke down in tears. She was able to recall much more detail when asked questions by the defence.

She remembered Colonel Willie Mayi taking her statement at Kabega Park police station and said he never asked her to read it and she was told to sign it. She also recalled her movements in detail prior to being taken to the police station.

She said when she saw Siyoni at the nightclub, she had not seen any injuries as he passed her to get into a separate police vehicle.

Breakfast said she saw Siyoni later the same day during the early hours at Kabega Park police station, “If I’m not mistaken his left or right eye was swollen, he had a scratch on the lip and his jeans were ripped”, said Breakfast.

On Wednesday, Breakfast denied almost all the content contained in two statements she had made to police last year.

An excerpt from one of her statements read: “In April, but I am not sure of the date, Thando has again informed me he had found a guy he called Sizwe who told him that he would kill the said lady for him. According to Thando the person would successfully do the job for Chris would be paid an amount of R50 000.”

On Wednesday, Breakfast told the prosecution she had never said this.

Police spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rebsburg confirmed Breakfast’s arrest and said she will appear in court today on charges of perjury and defeating the ends of justice. – ANA