Gibbs referred to a photo of Mlotshwa taken by Willem Oostuyzen. On the photo, Mlothswa is seen looking down and lifting up his shirt. He has testified that he does not know when the photo was taken, but has admitted that the photo was taken on the day he was shoved into the coffin.

A date displayed on the photo, shows 7 September, the date the defense allege the incident took place. Gibbs also said that the photo was a layman’s attempt to take evidence showing that Mlotshwa left the scene with no visible injuries.

Mlotshwa has disagreed with that, saying that he “came out running” and that there would not have been time for them to take the photo after he got out of the coffin.

Mlotshwa said that he was in a state after the coffin incident and listed his injuries as damage to his right arm, ribs, back and shoulders as well as that his nose was bleeding and one of his eyes swollen. He said he ran home as soon as his legs permitted him to do so.

Gibbs said that if the court finds that the photo of Mlotshwa was taken prior to the coffin incident, despite them arguing otherwise, he still does not see any evidence of the vicious assault Mlotshwa testified to.  He asked Mlotshwa to explain the absence of visible injuries on the  photo taken on the scene where the coffin incident took place, despite his testimony of the “vicious attack” prior to it.

In reply, Mlotshwa said that he was assaulted with clenched fists, open hands as well as kicked whilst lying on the ground.

Gibbs said the photo, as well as the coffin videos, show no visible injuries that would indicate that Mlotshwa was assaulted prior to the incident.

“If you were repeatedly assaulted in the face, and you were in pain, so much pain, like you testified, there would have been visible injuries. Why are we not seeing visible injuries?” Gibbs asked.

Mlotshwa, said that he tried to protect his face. He insisted that what he testified in his evidence in chief, was what transpired.

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Gibbs said that the reason the accused took the photo and videos, was because they wanted to show that Mlotshwa was not assaulted.

He said that he will argue that the reason Mlotshwa was placed in a coffin, was because he was caught with stolen copper cable. And that he threatened to kill their wives and children and burn their crops every year, if they took him to the police.

Mlotshwa denied their version. He said he carried no knowledge of their alleged threat.

Gibbs “To deter, scare you off and to make sure you do not act on your threats, and to deter you from stealing again and to admit from who you stole the cable, that is why they placed you in the coffin.”

“Your version is unlikely in the extreme. You testified that they suddenly started chasing you whilst you were standing next to the road and assaulted you without saying a word.”

Gibbs asked Mlotshwa to look at the video again, and to point out any visible injuries.

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