Senzo Meyiwa Trial | Ntanzi claims police used his phone in custody

Accused number two in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Bongani Ntanzi, has accused police of using his cellphone while he was in custody.

Ntanzi testified before the Pretoria High Court on Monday, where he has also requested detailed records of the facilities where he was detained.

He told the court he was rotated weekly between holding cells in Villieria, Moot and another police stations before being formally transferred to Rustenburg Correctional Centre Prison (Ramochana Prison) in March 2021.

Ntanzi remains under cross-examination, with the prosecution scrutinising cellphone records of calls allegedly made from his device while he was incarcerated.

State prosecutor, Advocate George Baloyi, presented records showing that Ntanzi’s phone called a contact listed as “Gogo” at least twice on 11 November 2020, with one call lasting approximately 160 seconds.

Ntanzi denied using the phone while behind bars.

“I am still standing by what I said, my Lord. I did not have a phone while in prison. The last time I had my phone was on the 16th of June. Even this 160 seconds the prosecutor is talking about, I don’t even see it on the records,” Ntanzi said.

Baloyi further told the court that 33 outgoing calls were made to “Gogo” between 26 June 2020 and 11 November 2020.

Ntanzi maintains that the police officers who arrested him were using his phone.

He cited an instance on 22 October 2020, when a “please call me” message was allegedly sent from his device to Sergeant Mabena, insisting it was not sent by him.

Prosecutors also presented records indicating that the phone allegedly made numerous calls to Ntanzi’s loved ones while he was in custody, including more than 1,700 calls to his ex-girlfriend, Lebo, between 17 June 2020 and 29 November 2020.

The State further alleges that Ntanzi received at least six calls from his mother, with one lasting up to five seconds.

Earlier testimony from a Vodacom employee indicated that Ntanzi’s phone continued to contact a number belonging to his ex-girlfriend during that period.

Ntanzi, however, insisted he had no access to the device while detained.

Baloyi explained that records show Ntanzi was taken on 19 June 2020 for a site inspection of his residence, where an unlicensed firearm was seized. He added that Ntanzi was read his rights and admitted into custody with no visible assault injuries.

The defence later objected to claims by the State that Ntanzi had received calls from his mother while in custody.

Defence lawyer Advocate Charles Mnisi argued that the prosecution was misinterpreting the cellphone records, saying the calls were diverted to voicemail.

Ntanzi is one of five men on trial for the 2014 murder of former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa in Vosloorus.

He maintains that when his phone was confiscated it was switched off, but alleges police later switched it on and used it without his consent.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao