WATCH: Scuffle between Meyiwa accused, prison warden at court

The warden and three of the five accused were involved in the brawl at the High Court in Pretoria.

The scuffle, which was caught on camera, involved Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Ntuli. 

Defence for accused number three, Advocate Charles Mncube, told the court his client was angry after the accused were not permitted to stretch their legs during the tea break.

It is believed that the Correctional Services warden did not want the accused to stand during the 15-minute adjournment. 

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“But today, specifically, he approached them again and said to them they should sit down like how they are seated here. And, according to accused number three, (the warden) Vusi, uttered the words, if they don’t want to comply with his instruction he is going to hit them,” said Mncube.

“So then they said, ‘This is an adjournment and we are entitled to stretch our legs because we are seated here for more than two hours. So we can’t continue sitting like this’. So he did not take kindly to that, and then he started to hold him and hit him with the shoulder. And accused number three had to stand to one of those blows but not in a way of retaliation but to ward off the blows.” 

Meanwhile, the warden gave his account of events.

“I called and said, ‘Ntuli, you don’t sit like that’. Then they hounded me and threatened to beat me up if I came close to them. I then said they can fight me if they want. I then tried to pull accused four, but accused number three was closer. 

"Then I saw a blow coming for me. It was accused number three, then number four, then five. I tried to come closer, and they were standing, but the other two didn’t do anything.” 

The court had since adjourned for lunch.