Matipandile Sotheni, the man accused of murdering Witness D, appeared in court on Monday where he denied involvement in the killing and instead pointed fingers at the late Wiandre Pretorius.
Giving evidence in support of his bail application, Sotheni told the court that Pretorius was his friend and that he became shocked after hearing his name mentioned at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
According to Sotheni, he contacted Pretorius to ask what had been said about him. He claimed Pretorius then invited him to meet face-to-face.
Sotheni alleged that during the meeting, Pretorius confessed that he and Julius Mkhwanazi had killed someone and dumped the body, before allegedly telling him that “Witness D must die.”
The court also heard that Sotheni and Pretorius were seen together on the day of the murder, travelling in a vehicle.
Sotheni admitted they had spent the day together, but insisted he had no knowledge of any murder plot.
He told the court that Pretorius had left his own vehicle at a car wash, after which they drove around together in Sotheni’s car, even stopping to buy food at a local store.
According to Sotheni, he later dropped Pretorius back at the car wash and went home, only to later hear on television that Witness D had been murdered. He said he later also learnt that Pretorius had allegedly died by suicide.
In an attempt to strengthen his bail bid, Sotheni’s lawyer submitted an affidavit detailing his personal circumstances.
In the affidavit, Sotheni stated that he has no previous criminal convictions and indicated that he is prepared to pay bail of up to R30,000 if granted release.
Despite the allegations against him and evidence placing him with Pretorius on the day of the incident, Sotheni maintains that he knows nothing about Witness D’s murder.
