The controversial 9mm parabellum firearm that has been linked to the murder of soccer star Senzo Meyiwa and another incident in Alexandra was stolen from a cash-in-transit robbery in May 2013.
This was revealed by SBV employee Pieter Jakobus Smuts during the Meyiwa murder trial at the Pretoria High Court on Monday.
Previously, the court heard that the gun was found in accused number three Mthobisi Mncube’s rented property in Malvern, Johannesburg in February 2015, when he was arrested in connection with the murder of an Alexandra taxi boss.
During the proceedings on Monday, Smuts confirmed that the gun belonged to his company, but the company was only notified of its recovery in 2020.
Smuts explained that SBV security guards carry firearms for protection but were disarmed during the robbery, making them vulnerable to the robbery.
The stolen firearm had been reported to the police in Rabie Ridge and was subsequently marked as stolen.
“[The firearm] was stolen during a cash-in-transit robbery. It was stolen in 2013 in Rabie Ridge in the month of May 2013, in which it was reported to the police. It was at a shopping centre in Rabie Ridge,” Smuts said.
A traditional healer, Robert Zwane, also took the stand to testify.
Zwane, who hails from Palmridge and claimed to be illiterate, told the court that three men had approached him to seek help in finding work.
He stated that he could not remember the men, however, he remembered one of them was “Sibiya”, describing him as being tall.
Zwane disclosed that he provided the men with a traditional remedy, which he referred to as Inhlanhla emhlophe, to illuminate their quest for employment.
He stated that he charged R100 for his consultation services, but the men paid him R500, indicating their desperation.
A few days later, according to Zwane’s account, the men returned reporting that they had successfully found employment but had inadvertently caused harm to someone in the process.
The court heard that Zwane then gave them Isihlazi sokugeza to counter their misfortunes.
The trial was adjourned early on Monday to allow defence lawyers and the state to reach an agreement on DNA admissions.
State advocate George Baloyi confirmed that forensic officer Thabo Mosia, who was one of the first people to arrive at the scene where Meyiwa was shot and killed, would be the first to take the stand on Tuesday for further examination.
This after the defence noticed certain discrepancies between his oral and documentary evidence.
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