The firearm linked to Bafana Bafana Captain Senzo Meyiwa’s murder was given a destruction order in 2017 but due to a lengthy process it survived and was linked to his murder only in 2020.
The 17th witness and police officer captain, Blessing Mtshali attached to the Visible Policing Unit took the stand to give evidence on why the firearm linked to Meyiwa’s murder was not destroyed.
The firearm was found in 2015 when accused Mthobisi Prince Mncube was nabbed for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition for a case linked to taxi violence.
After the taxi violence case was concluded then firearm was forfeited to the state on 10 November 2017 and was scheduled for destruction.
But the firearm was not destroyed and in his evidence in chief, Baloyi questioned Mtshali why this firearm was not destroyed, the police captain said there is a lot of paperwork involved when a firearm is destroyed. The police must also wait for instructions from the provincial office regarding the destruction of the firearm, he said.
“As I have already explained, a firearm can be kept for one to three years because there is a lot of paperwork that needs to be done before the firearm is destroyed,” said Mtshali.
Baloyi asked Mtshali when he started with the paperwork for the firearm to be destroyed.
“As I have already said, I created my own list to be readily available just in case they say we must bring the firearms for destruction then I will be in possession to give them.
“That is where the provincial office will then be sending us all the documents that need to be filled pertaining to that firearm. So I was then waiting for such an instruction to arrive and as I have also indicated that it takes time for such instruction to come.
“If the order from the province came three months after instructions, my Lord I would not be in the witness box today. Because this firearm would be ashes already. Now once that call up instruction has been issued this is when you start with the filing,” he added.
Mtshali revealed that the firearm was booked out for ballistic testing by Lieutenant Colonel Mangena on 20-07-2020 while pointing out the other delay in destroying the firearm was caused by the fact that the weapon didnt’ have a serial number.
“Now the record I have is that the serial number has been filed off. It means that is a also special procedure that needs to be complied with or followed as far as the firearm that doesn’t have the serial number,” said Mtshali
Baloyi asked what the procedure was when a serial number on a firearm had been filed off.
“Now the national office is the office that is responsible for such firearms. Now once a call up has been issued there will be instructions as to where a particular firearm should be taken.
“Once they are taken to that particular office then they will be given the weapon register number or the WR number. Even though others say it is a ZA number. Because there should be a record that shows the firearm once existed.
“Another reason why the firearm or the compliance with the destruction of the firearm was not done immediately is because there are a lot of civil claims against the police for the destruction of peoples’ firearms. All those things, we need to try and avoid so that they shouldn’t happen. That is why we don’t rush to destroy firearms,” he added.
At the same time, Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Bayat from the Serious Violent Crimes and Taxi violence unit confirmed that after the case linked to taxi violence against Mncube was finalised he ordered the firearm to be destroyed.
Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli have pleaded not guilty to charge of killing Meyiwa.
