The firearm used to kill Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa was stolen during a cash in transit robbery at a shopping center in Rabie Ridge in 2013, the legislation manager at SBV, Pieter Smut confirmed this when he was giving evidence in the North Gauteng High Court as the state tries to build a case against the five men on trial for the killing of Meyiwa.
Smuts told the court the gun belongs to SBV and it was stolen in 2013 at a Rabie Ridge shopping centre where their security guards were disarmed during a cash-in-transit heist.
“This specific firearm related to what we mentioned now in the license, it was stolen during a cash-in-transit robbery. It was stolen in 2013 in Rabie Ridge in the Month of May 2013 in which it was reported to the police,” said Smuts.
State Prosecutor George Baloyi asked Smuts about the process followed when the security officers go out to collect and deliver cash as part of their duties.
“The security officers carry firearms to protect them against any attack on them. So what happened during this incident was that the firearms were removed from the SBV employees during the attack. So what the guys have done is they took our employees’ firearms so they wouldn’t defend themselves. So they disarmed. So when the employee is disarmed it is easy to take the cash so that was the action,” said Smuts.
The 9 mm parabellum pistol was found in accused Number 3 Mthobisi Mncube’s possession in 2015 when he was nabbed for a taxi-related killing.
Police officers said at the time they found the firearm and 28 rounds of ammunition on top of the wardrobe where Mcube was renting in Malvern and Mncube was convicted and served a sentence for possession of the firearm.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng wanted to know whether there was a serial number on the barrel of the gun but Smuts responded that the barrel serial number was filed off.
Also, ballistic expert warrant officer Cornelius Roelofse confirmed that during the etching process he was able to obtain a possible serial number that was removed.
Smuts said the serial number 8587B that was discovered during the etching process matched the serial number of the SBV firearm license.
Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli are on trial charged with the premeditated murder of Meyiwa, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of firearms without a license and possession of ammunition.
Another state witness, traditional healer Robert Zwane, told the court that a man whom he referred to as Sibiya came to consult with him requesting cleansing to increase his luck for a job.
However, Zwane was unable to point out Sibiya from the suspects on trial for Meyiwa’s murder.
Defence lawyer, Zandile Mshololo pressed Zwane to identify the suspect who consulted with him. “And you told this court that you can’t identify that person because you only saw him once,” charged Mshololo.
“I am telling the truth. Just like yourself I am seeing you for the first time. I will not be able to recognise this one and that one. This is the truth I am sorry.Even yourselves I won’t be able to recognise you. The next time I see you, you come to me with such a big problem. I can’t really identify you when I come across you again,“ said Zwane who also pointed out that he assisted a lot of people on a daily basis.
The state is expected to call forensic experts, warrant officer Thabo Mosia on Tuesday to give clarity about his testimony and the entries he made on his pocket book.
