Meyiwa murder trial hears of accused 3’s collection of gun pictures

‘Ishiyabazali’, loosely translated a machine that makes you leave the parents behind, is how a picture of a 9mm pistol was saved in the phone that was found in accused 3, Mthobisi Mncube’s possession when he was arrested in 2015.

Data downloaded from the handset revealed a collection of pictures of guns, including 9mm pistols and rifles, taken by the phone, and given names.

‘My Killing Machine’ referred to another 9mm pistol, while ‘Insimbi ehlanyisa olova’ included several 9mm pistols and bullets. In one picture, a rifle and a 9mm pistol could be seen.

Mabasa has presented, among others, pictures of,

– a rifle and a 9 mm pistol on a car seat;
-several guns saved as ‘ensimbi ehlanyisa olova’, he says the majority of which are 9mm pistols and bullets;
-9mm pistol ‘ishiyabazali’, showing a 9 mm pistol.#sabcnews #SenzoMeyiwa

— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) August 1, 2023

All of this was presented at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria by Sergeant Moses Mabasa.

Mncube was arrested in 2015 for a different charge of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and was later sentenced to 35 years in prison for a murder linked to the gun found in his possession and it was out of this that he was linked to the 2014 murder of the former Orlando Pirates keeper, Senzo Meyiwa.

Mabasa: The information was downloaded by Sergeant Nkosi in 2015 and upon the request of the investigation officer I had to go fetch the information to compile this report, which was in August 2020.#SABCNews #SenzoMeyiwaTrial #SenzoMeyiwa

— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) August 1, 2023

Mabasa says he was tasked with analysing the data that was downloaded from the phone, sim card and memory card by Investigating Officer, Brigadier Bongani Gininda, specifically to compile pictures and analyse calls and SMSs from the phone.

Mabasa: There were a lot of pictures on the device. The ones that I compiled were the ones requested by the investigator.#SABCNews #SenzoMeyiwaTrial #SenzoMeyiwa

— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) August 1, 2023

For the most part of his evidence-in-chief the state led the state’s fifth witness on a range of pictures showing a Mncube dressed in beige clothing in some pictures, sporting dreadlocks.

Mnisi: Where do you see dreadlocks there?

Mabasa: On his head.

Mnisi: Why do you say those are dreadlocks?

Mabasa: I see the lines.

Mnisi: Are you saying there are lines?

Mabsa: Yes.#SABCNews #SenzoMeyiwaTrial #SenzoMeyiwa

— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) August 1, 2023

Advocate Charles Mnisi has told the court, for the second time, that the man whose pictures were beamed on the screen in court were those of his client and that there was no question about that.

Mnisi: I put it to you that the gentleman is actually accused No.: 3 here in court.

Mabasa: Ok.

Judge: Are you putting it to him?

Mnisi: I’m putting him at peace.

Judge: That the person in the pictures is here in court.

Mnisi: Yes, my lord.

Judge: Oh! Is that so?

Mnisi: Yes!

Kelly Khumalo’s sister, Zandile, has previously told the court that she, her mother, and Longwe were seated on the one couch in the sitting room, while Tumelo Madlala, Mthokozisi Thwala and Senzo Meyiwa sat on the other couch before two men, one short with dreadlocks, wearing brownish clothes, walked in front, while another one who was taller, wearing a hoodie, followed behind, entered the house through the kitchen door.

She identified accused 2, Bongani Ntanzi as the taller intruder who walked in after the short intruder with dreadlocks carrying a gun.

Earlier on Tuesday, cellphone analyst and Investigating Officer, Colonel Lambertus Steyn, concluded his testimony telling the court that in his 41 years of experience in the police service his testimony has never been rejected by any court and that in 2009 he was declared an expert by a judge.

He says he has to date testified in about 2000 cases.

The defense says they will not be calling an expert to counter Col Steyn’s evidence.

Court adjourns.

The state is expected to call a new witness when court resumes after 10 minutes.#SABCNews #SenzoMeyiwaTrial #SenzoMeyiwa

— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) August 1, 2023

The trial will continue on Wednesday morning.

Senzo Meyiwa Murder Trial | New witness brings up picture of a gun saved as ‘my killing machine’: