SAPS Colonel Nkosinathi Hadebe was back on the witness stand and continued being cross examined by the defence as the focus in the trial within a trial remained on the pointing out of the scene by accused one Muzi Sibiya in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial. It is believed to be forced participation.

CROSS EXAMINATION 

Hadebe faced cross-examination from the defence of accused number one, advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, who suggested that the witness might have been conflicted since he already knew of Senzo Meyiwa's death from the media. However, Hadebe said he did not because he didn't have in-depth information on the investigation into the murder, therefore his views were untainted by media reports. Hadebe said he did not know why the accused was arrested but he had to question him and do his job. "After his rights were read out to him, accused one explained to me why he was arrested and it was for dealing drugs. When it comes to the pointing out of the scene, he was informed that it would be for a different matter, hence there's a statement."

FORCED CO-OPERATION 

Advocate Mngomezulu put it to the witness that the accused was assaulted and coerced into participating. "Let me put the version of the accused. My instruction is that he was arrested on the 30th of May 2020 in Tembisa and during the arrest he was assaulted by the police outside a house at a place called Lethabong. He was taken to Vosloorus near a municipality building next to the court, where he was again assaulted and 'tubed'. Then he was transported to Alberton. On the 30th he was assaulted in the presence of Colonel Mhlanganelwa Mbotho who took down the confession," said Mngomezulu. Colonel Mbotho who is retired, told the court last week that Sibiya, accused number one confessed to committing the crime. He said that he had 34 years of experience in the SAPS and that during his career, he took over 100 confession statements. Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng disagreed with Mngomezulu's statement. "But that is not the version which was initially put. The initial version put was that he was assaulted in an office and when Mbotho came in the assault stopped before he produced a form which had already been filled." Mngomezulu said Mbotho had documents and said to Sibiya that if he didn't sign them, he would let the people who were assaulting him continue torturing him. He concluded his cross-examination and the trial continues tomorrow.