State challenges Ntanzi’s submission that he doesn’t know Mjiyako – SABC News

The State in the Senzo Meyiwa trial is challenging Bongani Ntanzi‘s claim that he lacked legal representation when he provided one of his confession statements.
Ntanzi, who is appearing alongside four of his co-accused, has been under cross-examination at the High Court in Pretoria.
The five men are on trial for the 2014 murder of the former Bafana Bafana captain.
The state revealed that Ntokozo Mjiyako is mentioned as Ntanzi’s legal representative in six court appearances after the alleged confession.
The late defence counsel, Thulani Mngomezulu, who was representing Ntanzi during the trial within a trial on the admissibility of confession statements, informed the court that Ntanzi didn’t have legal representation when he sat down with Magistrate Vivian Cronje to take down the contested confession statement.
However, when Ntanzi took the stand in February this year, he told the court he briefly met Adv Ntokozo Mjiyako when he was making his first appearance at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court.
Prosecutor, Advocate George Baloyi says Ntanzi’s version contradicts that of his legal defence.
Baloyi read a record of a previous submission by Mngomezulu: “It is my instruction that he was not represented on that day, and he does not even know Mr. Mjiyako. It is my instruction that is why I’m still insisting on the right to legal representation.”
From this, Baloyi pointed out at the inconsistency.
“So, this version that you’re giving that you had just arrived at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court (and that) the gentleman in spectacles, um, approached you, told you that he is your legal representative, um, has been instructed by your sister, doesn’t accord with this proposition by Mr. Mngomezulu in the following respects. Firstly, this version that you gave in your evidence in chief, doesn’t accord with the proposition by Mr. Mngomezulu,” argued Baloyi.
Advocate Baloyi says Mjiyako is distancing himself from representing Ntanzi on six occasions at the lower courts.
If we look at the proceedings of RR. The record of proceedings of Tlhabane, they indicate that Mr. Mjiyako appeared for you six times.
Ntanzi: Because there were occasions where I would not be taken to court, and the court would be told that I am sick when I wasn’t sick.
Baloyi: The first time he came on record was only 13th of July 2020. July 2020.
Ntanzi insists he never called Mjiyako to represent him.
“Whether it was the fourth time, or 10th time, who appointed him?”
Ntanzi is expected back on the stand Friday when the trial continues.

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