Meyiwa trial adjourned as new defence attorney joins case

Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu will join attorney Sipho Ramosopele as defence counsel for accused number one and two, Muzi Sibiya and Bongani Ntanzi.

Mngomezulu requested that the court grant him a postponement until Tuesday so he could consult with his new clients.

"It is indeed so, my lord. I am ready to proceed as from tomorrow as arranged in relation to the evidence of the magistrate. I humbly ask the court that I need to consult with both accused one and two and request the court to make an order that I be given a few hours to consult with accused one and two."

Last week, the court began hearing a trial-within-a-trial to determine the admissibility of alleged confessions made by Sibiya and Ntanzi.

According to evidence presented before the court, Sibiya and Ntanzi confessed to certain details about Meyiwa's murder.

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Retired police officer Colonel Mhlanganyelwa Mbotho testified in court last week that Sibiya had confessed to him about Meyiwa's murder. 

Mhlanganyelwa also said that Sibiya insisted he did not need a legal representative while giving his confession.

But Mngomezulu has made it clear that he will be recalling Mbotho and Sergeant Nakedi Monareng, who testified on the details of Sibiya's confession.  

"I was going to bring an application for the recalling of Colonel Mbotho, who has already testified on Friday together with Monareng, on the instruction I received from the accused one." 

Mbotho's evidence before the court is that Sibiya was arrested in Tembisa on 30 May 2020. He was then taken to the Diepkloof Police Station in Soweto, where he met with Mbotho to draft his confession.