TWO of the five men accused of killing Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa, told police in their confession statements that they were paid R100 000 to carry out the alleged hit.
This was revealed in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Friday after police read their confession statements. Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng ruled on Thursday that the confession statements were made freely and voluntarily.
The accused had told the court they were assaulted and tubed to make the confessions. The court went into a trial within a trial for five months to determine if the confessions were admissible. During the trial within a trial, some of the information from the statements had been redacted.
Since the ruling, the court is now hearing the confession statements for the first time after Judge Mokgoatlheng admitted them into evidence. In the confession statement of accused number two, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi told police that he received R45 000 for his role in the murder and accused number one, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya was paid R30 000.
The hit was allegedly ordered by singer Kelly Khumalo who also has a child with Meyiwa. Meyiwa was shot dead at Khumalo’s Vosloorus home. On Friday, justice of the peace officer, Lieutenant Colonel Solomon Raphadu, who took down Ntanzi’s confession on June 19, 2020 in Moroka, read the statement in court.
Ntanzi, who was 30-years-old at the time, said he received a call in mid-October 2014 from his friend, Mthokoziseni Ziphozonke Maphisa, accused number four, who was in the company of accused number three, Mthobisi Prince Mncube. After the call, he said he left his work place and went to meet his friends in Vosloorus hostel where they planned the murder.
“On Sunday between 7pm and 8pm we proceeded to the address. I went in with Carlos (Mncube) and others took their positions as discussed during the planning. When we entered the house Carlos shouted in Zulu: ‘phanzi, imali na ma cellphones!’ (down, money and cellphones!). I started collecting cellphones and cash that was in the container.’’
He said a struggle ensued after Meyiwa jumped up and fought with Mncube (Carlos). “Two shots were fired and the second shot hit Senzo as the gun was pointed at him. I fled into the silver Polo that was waiting outside, shortly afterwards everyone was in the car and we went back to the hostel.” Upon arriving the hostel, he said he was given R15 000 and the next day, Mncube gave him another R30 000. — IOL News