The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial proceeded on Monday at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria with the state calling their tenth witness, Sergeant Mandela Masondo. Masondo has 20 years of experience in the police service and is stationed in the organised crime unit, which also deals with taxi violence. 

Masondo was behind the arrest of accused number 3 Mthobisi Mncube in 2015 for a different matter. "On that day, I received information about the whereabouts of the suspect I had been looking for. When we drove to that address, the suspect had already left. We were then further informed that he stayed in Malvern, Cleveland. We followed that lead and we found the suspect walking on the street with his girlfriend," said Masondo. He said they introduced themselves to Mncube and drove with him to his place. "We then started searching the room. The constable I was with checked on top of the wardrobe and he noticed a firearm. Next to the firearm, there was a small blue box. He brought the firearm down." He said the firearm was loaded with 16 rounds and the serial number was scratched off. He said as the investigations were ongoing, he requested data from the Mncube's phone after he had booked it at the Brixton SAPS war room. "I requested for phonebook info, contacts and images. On top of the form is the IMEI number and cellphone number. The make and model of the phone is a Samsung model GTE 2220. The reason for cellphone downloading was to place the suspect on the scene and to get his accomplice," Masondo added. He also told the court the firearm was traced to a Fidelity guard from Centurion in Pretoria.

Mncube was arrested for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition in a separate matter, however, the weapon was later linked to Meyiwa's murder. Masondo says the accused had dreadlocks when he arrested him in 2015 and also pointed him out in court. Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli are accused of premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of firearms and ammunition without a licence. The trial continues tomorrow.