Lead investigator Brigadier Bongani Gininda has denied soliciting accused two, Bongani Ntanzi, R3 million for a confession naming “the right people” in former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa‘s murder.
Gininda was cross-examined in a trial-within-a-trial in Pretoria’s Gauteng High Court on Thursday morning, a day after his affidavit named singer Kelly Khumalo as the person who allegedly paid for Meyiwa’s murder.
Meyiwa was fatally shot by armed intruders at the Khumalo family home in Vosloorus, Gauteng, on October 26, 2014, in what was described as a botched heist. However, the court heard this week that Meyiwa’s death was a contract killing rather than a botched robbery.
[ Police Application For Kelly Khumalo’s Arrest In Connection With Meyiwa Murder Revealed ]
On Thursday, defense advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, representing accused two, told Gininda that his client had accused him of promising him R3 million to implicate the “right people” in the murder and had been assaulted at numerous locations in exchange for a confession.
Ntanzi also denied signing any document purporting to be a confession on the morning of June 19, 2020.
According to Mngomezulu, as reported by his client, Gininda went to Ntanzi on June 21, 2020, apologized for the police officers’ assault in exchange for a confession and promised him R3 million.
Gininda replied: “I’m shocked about the claim that police bribe the suspects. I’ve never heard of a case where the state or police officers offer accused persons R3 million. I’ve never heard of it.
“It’s my first time. It’s absotuley not true, it’s a lie. There’s no budget that I have even to make such an offer. I didn’t have a budget of R3 million for the unit during that time. I don’t have it.
“Even if it was available, why would I do that. The accused cooperated with me on the 18th and told me he was willing to make a statement voluntarily. On the 19th in the morning, he made the confession. What is the point of going to him on the 21st for what promises? There were no promises made. I met him on the 22nd.”
Gininda said he only met Ntanzi in Carletonville on 18 June, for his alibi that never was, and then met him again on the 19th.
“I did meet him on 18 June 2020 at Carltonville mine. This [was] when we were following the alibi who said he was at work. This information was found to be false. Subsequent to that meeting and utterings that he was willing to make a confession, I left with Sergeant Mogane. That is from Carltonville. I never saw him again or travelled with him and Sgt Mogane. We went our separate ways. I only met him the following day in the evening. I was never in Alberton,” said Gininda
“Based on the information collected on his detainment, there was no indication that he was assaulted, because I am the one who organised the OBs [Occurrence Book entry].
“Subsequent to the mechanical fault that was reported by Sgt Mogane, I know he was taken through the OB registers in the morning of the 19th, booked out for court proceedings and nowhere does it reflect that he was assaulted at any stage when he was there.”
The confession was made on 19 June 2020 and concluded before midday. Gininda met the suspect later that evening, and there was no indication the suspect had a complaint of being assaulted, he said.
“What I know is that there was an understanding between me and accused two that he is freely and voluntarily willing to make a confession to an independent officer. Subsequent to that, arrangements were made for a confession to be taken and it was indeed taken,” said Gininda.
“The document I received from Lieutenant Raphadu in his office in Ennerdale, was signed on the portion where the accused was supposed to sign. And I didn’t get any indication, even when I met him later that evening of the 19th, because the confession was concluded just before midday, that he had no complaints. I did not see any visible injuries on him.”
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