In a shocking turn of events in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, a suspect has claimed that he was offered R3 million to falsely confess to the crime. Bongani Ntanzi, the second accused in the case, made the revelation through his defense advocate, Thulani Mngomezulu. Ntanzi alleges that the bribe was intended to implicate the “right people” in the murder of the soccer star.
The claim was made during the cross-examination of lead investigator Brigadier Bongani Gininda, who vehemently denied the allegations. Gininda stated that this was the first time he had heard of such a bribery attempt by the police.
The trial, which is being held in the high court in Pretoria, is centered around the murder of Senzo Meyiwa, a renowned soccer player who was shot and killed in 2014. Five men, including Ntanzi, are currently on trial for the crime. All the accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial has been marked by explosive revelations, including links between the accused and Kelly Khumalo, Meyiwa’s then-girlfriend. Two of the accused, Muzi Sibiya and Bongani Ntanzi, have implicated Khumalo as the mastermind behind Meyiwa’s assassination.
The trial continues, with Gininda expected to return to the stand for further cross-examination. The allegations of police bribery add a new layer of complexity to an already convoluted case, raising questions about the integrity of the investigation and the pursuit of justice for Senzo Meyiwa.
Adv. Thulani Mngomezulu tells Brig. Bongani Gininda that accused 2 Bongani Ntanzi says he offered him R3 million to implicate the "right people" in Senzo Meyiwa's murder. Gininda denies this and says it's the first time he hears of the police offering bribes.#SenzoMeyiwaTrial pic.twitter.com/xEyyb6P11c
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) January 25, 2024