This week: Bongani Ntanzi takes the stand in his own defence as witness one for his defence as accused number 2 in the death of Senzo Meyiwa. His attorney Sipho Ramosepele takes him to the very beginning. HIS ARREST 16 JUNE 2020. A cold winter day in the middle of the Covid Pandemic.

Ntanzi Arrest and Interogation aka TORTURE!

Ntanzi recounts receiving a call for a job offer before his arrest on 16 June 2020. He describes being arrested by Mogane and Mabhena, who initially misidentified him as Buthelezi! He details his phone and ID being taken, being slapped by Mabhena and being transported to Pukeng Police Station where he remained in the car. He was taken to Pretoria North where he was detained.

The next day, he was interrogated in a boardroom by Mogane, Mabhena, Magola and Brigadier Bongani Nicholas Gininda as well as Jonathan, where he denied involvement in Senzo Meyiwa’s death. And was also shown pictures he claims were not him.

— Miss I Digress

Ntanzi’s cell phone pinged at various towers in Johannesburg on 17 June 2020, despite him being held in a prison cell, contradicting police claims that his phone was taken at the time of his arrest.

Visit to Ntanzi’s Workplace and Medical Records: On 18 June, 2020, Ntanzi was taken to his workplace. Sibanye Mine. Police claim they were there to confirm his whereabouts on the 26 October 2014. Initially, HR stated he was absent without approval but later in court corrected to say he was absent without pay on an unpaid leave was previously applied for. This there can’t be that Ntanzi received a call to contract him for the hit in October 2014, because he had previously requested the leave way before October. Timeline isn’t matching up. The police also collected his medical records for October 2014.

The Engen Garage and Torture: Ntanzi was taken to an Engen Garage where he was allegedly assaulted and suffocated with a plastic bag over his head by officers, what is commonly referred to as TUBING! This account is corroborated by AVL records thereby contradicting initial police denials. Following this he was taken to an area near Soweto Towers, handcuffed to a staircase, they poured water on him, electrocuted him until he bled through his nose. Note that this was not interpreted correctly into the record because Jonas said TORCHED instead of TORTURED. This type of torture isn’t new to us, it is the modus operandi of these rogue units as this is also described at the Madlanga Commission involving EMPD officers.

Nongoma and Drug Cases: Ntanzi was booked out of the police station cells at 2AM for the Nongoma case, which was according to Advocate the late Mngomezulu’s research had long been closed and the suspected charged and sentenced. Although the police describe him as a person of interest in this case, Ntanzi finds this highly odd as he was a traditional dancer and had a public presence in the community. At this traditional dance events there are always police officers in attendance and at no time was he ever taken in for questioning of these alleged cases. Ntanzi also expressed confusion about a drug case during his arrest but has never been to court for such a case.

Police claim Ntanzi gave a confession freely and willingly to Rapadu at the Moroka Police Station on 19 June 2020. However Bongani Ntanzi maintains he never left the vehicle at the Moroka Police Station and later the Voslorus Magistrate Court. Where he also says he never entered the court. He describes meeting with Rapadu at the Baragwanath Hospital instead where he signed the documents in the boot of a car, implying coercion.

Planting Evidence and Unlicensed Ammunition: Bongani Ntanzi claims the police planted bullets at his residence in Freedom Park, charging him with possession of unlicensed ammunition, a case that was later dismissed in court because the bullets were not produced. However Ntanzi had been wearing the same blood stained Tshirt, so if they were at his residence why did they not let him change or take a change of clothes for him.

Gold Tooth Examination and Continued Inconsistencies: police then took Ntanzi to a doctor to check for a gold tooth, the police ein the board room had shown him pictures of a man with a gold tooth and insisted it was him but he refuted this saying he had never had a gold tooth hence now being checked for the gold tooth. The dr then came to court to testify in the states case that Ntanzi never had a gold tooth.

On 23 June, Ntanzi claims he was offered R3 million by police officers for information on Senzo Meyiwa case, an offer he refused stating he is employed nad his pay at the mine is more than satisfactory for him. On 24 June he was taken to Magistrate Cronje to make a confession. He describes being in leg irons and an attorney allegedly sent by his sister ( who he had never seen before) was present. This lawyer was Ntokozo Mjiyako. We will talk about him in a separate session. Ntanzi was suspicious and asked for his sister’s name and phone number to verify this alleged lawyer his sister sent, because at this time Bongani family have no idea he is arrested. The lawyer brushes him off and says they will discuss after the meeting with the magistrate. Ntanzi wants Mjiyako charged for misconduct. Now the confession with this magistrate differs slightly formt eh confession given to Rapadu and strange enough the magistrate does note the Ntanzi requested a bath and a phone call. Why did the magistrate document this. And should she have not questioned if this confession was indeed being given freely and fairly.

Attempts to Open a Case Against Mjiyako: Ntanzi attempted to open a case against his former lawyer, Mjiyako, but was not assisted. His current lawyer, Sipho Ramosepele later reads into the record that this indeed did happen by reading the transcripts of the court at the time. And Ntanzi is on record making this request. Once again more of Ntanzi rights blatantly ignored.