Lead investigator Brigadier Bongani Gininda has refuted allegations that he offered accused Bongani Ntanzi R3 million in exchange for a confession implicating “the right people” in the murder of former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.
Gininda made this statement during cross-examination in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
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The previous day, Gininda’s affidavit named singer Kelly Khumalo as the person who allegedly paid for Meyiwa’s murder. The court was informed that Meyiwa’s death was not a robbery gone wrong, but a contract killing.
During the trial-within-a-trial, defence Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu accused Gininda of assaulting Ntanzi in various locations to obtain a confession.
Ntanzi denied signing any document purporting to be a confession on June 19, 2020. Mngomezulu further claimed that Gininda apologised to Ntanzi on June 21, 2020, for the assault and offered him R3 million.
In response, Gininda vehemently denied the allegations, stating that he had never heard of a case where the police offered accused persons such a large sum of money.
He emphasised that he did not have a budget of R3 million for the unit at that time and questioned why he would make such an offer if he did.
Gininda clarified that he had met Ntanzi on June 18, 2020, regarding an alibi that turned out to be false. He stated that after their meeting, he did not see Ntanzi again until the evening of June 19, when the confession was made.
Gininda emphasised that there was no indication that Ntanzi had been assaulted during his detainment, as he had organised the Occurrence Book entries himself.
The lead investigator also stated that there was an understanding between him and Ntanzi that the confession would be made voluntarily to an independent officer.
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He confirmed that the confession was taken on June 19, 2020, and that Ntanzi did not complain of any assault during their meeting that evening.
Gininda concluded by asserting that he did not witness any assault and that there were no visible injuries on Ntanzi when they met.
The trial continues as the court examines the validity of the confession and the circumstances surrounding it.
