Accused number two in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Bongani Ntanzi, has rejected claims that he possessed or used a cellphone while in prison custody following his arrest in June 2020.
Ntanzi is one of five men standing trial at the High Court in Pretoria for the 2014 killing of the former Bafana Bafana captain. The matter returned to court as the State continued leading evidence related to alleged communications linked to Ntanzi after his arrest.
State prosecutor George Baloyi presented phone records that he said indicate communication between Ntanzi, a legal representative and family members months after Ntanzi was taken into custody. According to the State, data linked to the device also reflects multiple airtime purchases before the phone was allegedly confiscated from a prison cell.
However, Ntanzi disputed the State’s version during proceedings. He told the court that his cellphone was confiscated on 16 June 2020, the day of his arrest, and denied making or receiving any calls thereafter.
“My Lord, upon my arrest on the 16th of June, my phone was confiscated,” Ntanzi said. He further argued that the records presented do not clearly demonstrate that airtime was purchased or that the device was in his possession during the period in question. Ntanzi also pointed to what he described as gaps in the location data, saying the documents do not indicate where the phone was on specific dates cited by the prosecution.
Baloyi maintained that the records form part of the State’s evidence seeking to establish communication patterns linked to the accused following his arrest. The court continues to hear testimony related to the phone data and its relevance to the State’s case.
The high-profile trial into Meyiwa’s murder has drawn sustained public attention, with proceedings focusing on forensic, testimonial and technical evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defence.