The defence in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial started with the cross-examination of state witness, Sergeant Vusumuzi Mogane from the National Cold Case Unit. Mogane testified about the arrest and detention of accused one Muzi Sibiya and Bongani Ntanzi, who is accused number two, in the murder case of slain soccer star.

During his cross-examination, accused number two's defence Thulani Mngomezulu took the witness back to the day Ntanzi was interviewed. Mngomezulu said his instructions were that when Mogane summoned Ntanzi to the boardroom, there were a lot of cases being dealt with. Mogane responded, "I don't know about that, and because of the sensitivity of our cases, we wouldn't want a lot of people there because of the potential leaks." Mngomezulu said accused two claimed that he was ordered to undress so they could see if he had any tattoos. "Brigadier Bongani Gininda is a seasoned officer who knows the law. He wouldn't ask him to undress and take pictures." Gininda is the lead investigator in Meyiwa's murder case. Mngomezulu put it to Mogane that in the boardroom, Ntanzi denied any involvement in the murder of Meyiwa. Mogane said, "That's true, he denied it,". Mogane added that after accused two denied any involvement in the murder, he took him to his workplace where he said they would confirm where he was on the day Meyiwa was killed. "Ask your client to tell you the truth. When we left the mine, having received the evidence that he was not at work, we drove out of the mine and he asked to speak to Brigadier Gininda. Gininda went to him and said, What's the matter Ntanzi?. Ntanzi said he wanted to tell the truth since his employer said he wasn't at work, and that's when Brigadier Gininda read him his rights." Mogane said Ntanzi then started talking and Gininda stopped him and told him that since he was the lead investigator in the case, he would get someone neutral to take down the statement.

Last week Mngomezulu mentioned that the accused instructed him that he was deprived of food for hours after his arrest. "Did he eat anything," asked,Mngomezulu. "He ate whatever we were eating. We would even ask him what brand he liked. If he said he wanted KFC, then we bought that," replied Mogane. The court was adjourned early after Mngomezulu asked for an early adjournment as he was not feeling well. The trial resumes tomorrow.