Defence witness in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Qiniselani Buthelezi, who is an inmate from KwaZulu-Natal, has denied knowing accused number two, Bongani Ntanzi. Buthelezi told the court that Friday was the first time he had seen Ntanzi.
This follows an affidavit by the late key witness, Simphiwe Buthelezi, which allegedly linked Ntanzi to a firearms and ammunition supply network used by hitmen across the country.
Ntanzi and his co-accused are on trial for the 2014 murder of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa, who was shot and killed at the Vosloorus home of singer Kelly Khumalo’s mother in Ekurhuleni.
Defence witness Qiniselani Buthelezi, was shown photographs of some of the five accused on the first day of his testimony.
State Prosecutor Advocate Ronnie Sibanda: Can you identify these individuals?
Buthelezi: Yes.
Sibanda: Who are they?
Buthelezi: It is accused number five and accused number three.
Buthelezi says he knows four of the accused, but not Bongani Ntanzi. He confirmed that he was related to the late Simphiwe Buthelezi but rejected claims that either he or Simphiwe knew Ntanzi.
Defence lawyer, Advocate Sipho Ramosepele: Brigadier Gininda said the suspect linking you and Mr Ntanzi to the firearm and ammunition network was Simphiwe Buthelezi. Do you know anything about that?
Buthelezi: That is not true. I also think they are saying things that are not true about Simphiwe. I do not believe Simphiwe knew Ntanzi, and Ntanzi did not know Simphiwe either.
Buthelezi also testified about his arrest and conviction in the 2018 KwaNongoma murder case, in which Ntanzi was implicated. Earlier in the trial, investigating officer Colonel Bhutomncane Khumalo testified that he had only been looking for Buthelezi and that Ntanzi had not been linked to the KwaNongoma case during the investigation.
Ramosepele: I am not referring to other matters from 2016. In relation to KwaNongoma case 163/10 of 2018, were you incarcerated on that charge?
Buthelezi: Yes. I was incarcerated in KwaNongoma until my conviction in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
Buthelezi is expected to continue his testimony when the trial resumes on Monday.
VIDEO |Senzo Meyiwa murder trial proceedings on 12 June 2026:
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