In the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, the defence team for accused Bongani Ntanzi has demanded documentary evidence linking a cellphone number to his bank account. The request arose during cross-examination over alleged prison calls. The trial concerns the 2014 killing of the former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper.
The ongoing trial for the 2014 murder of Senzo Meyiwa resumed in the Pretoria High Court, where Bongani Ntanzi and four co-accused face charges. During cross-examination on 25 February 2026, state prosecutor George Baloyi presented phone records showing communications Ntanzi allegedly made from his prison cell to family members and a previous lawyer after his June 2020 arrest.
Baloyi highlighted data on airtime purchases, including one on 25 October 2020 using the feature *130 *3279#. Ntanzi denies possessing a cellphone while incarcerated. When the state introduced a Rica’d number tied to Ntanzi’s bank account, defence counsel Charles Mnisi objected, stating the documents were unfamiliar.
Mnisi argued for access to the materials to ensure a fair trial. He said: “Can the state please make copies of the document that they have in their position also available to us? Otherwise, we’ll stand up and say this is a new information. We do not have it, it may constitute an unfair trial in the instance of this accused person, because we haven’t had the opportunity to go through the documents, for us to peruse them, to question them, to analyse the documents.”
Presiding Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng expressed surprise at the request, noting that all parties should possess the evidence bundles. The judge remarked: “You know what worries me? Evidence is led by the state. And if any one of you thinks, Mr. Baloyi is misleading this court, let’s put it plain, lying or pretending to be an expert. You take the record; you go and consult with an expert. And you say, this is what they say about this. You get an opinion, and then you come and cross examine. But you can’t stop the state from leading evidence. I’ve never heard of this.”
Ntanzi’s cross-examination is set to continue the following morning.
