Witness in Jayde case arrested for lying

LUTHANDO SIYONI’s girlfriend, Babalwa Breakfast, was declared a hostile witness in the high court in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

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 ongoing trial involving Christopher Panayiotou and his two co-accused, Sinethemba Nenembe and Zolani Sibeko.

Crying hysterically, she hid her face from reporters and photographers 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 in April last year.

Under cross-examination yesterday, Breakfast was questioned by defence advocate Terry Price.

At one point she broke down in tears.

But she was able to recall much more detail when questioned by the defence as opposed to Wednesday.

She remembered Colonel Willie Mayi taking down her statement at Kabega Park police station and said he had never asked her to read it and she was just told to sign it.

Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg confirmed Breakfast’s arrest and said she would appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court today on charges of perjury and defeating the ends of justice.