There was a twist in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial yesterday when Magistrate Viviene Cronje testified about the confession statements made by accused one and two. Cronje was appointed to take down confession statements from accused one Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya and accused two Bongani Ntanzi in June 2020. She told the Pretoria High Court that she was asked to take down the confession from the accused by a senior magistrate in Vosloorus on 24 June 2020 at 11 am.

The defence of the two accused has challenged the admissibility of the statements claiming their statements were not signed before Cronje and his clients were assaulted and forced to make the confession. However, Cronje insists that Ntanzi's statement was signed before her. "I then spoke to the man in handcuffs in an informal way to make him comfortable. I spoke to him in English and it was interpreted. In that conversation, he informed me that Mr Mjiyako was his lawyer and he would like to proceed with him there. Then I proceeded with the completion of the document and he said he was Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi (Accused two)," she testified. Cronje added that after going through all the standard questions and taking down the confession, everything was interpreted back to Ntanzi. "After everything was interpreted back to him, I asked him to sign each and every page in front of the interpreter and his lawyer that he was satisfied with it. It was noted the dependent was confident and had good eye contact. Handcuffs were loose not tight; he had no visible marks on face and hands." Cronje said, adding that she asked Ntanzi why he was at her office and who brought him there. "He replied to Seargeant Vusumuzi Mogane escorted by metro police. He said the police told him to come to court to make a statement and he was happy to make a statement."

Cronje said he asked Ntanzi questions to make sure he was not forced to confess. "I asked him: Did police or anyone assault you to make this statement? He said no, not at all. Did anyone influence you to make a statement? He said no on his own. Did anyone encourage you to make a statement? He said no. He then made the statement, we went through it together and after he indicated that he was satisfied. I then requested that he signs each and every page, in my presence, in the presence of the interpreter, as well as in the presence of his legal representative, Mr Mjiako,"she said. Cronje will be cross examined by the defence on today after they have listened to the three-hour long audio containing Ntanzi's confession overnight. The trial continues today.