The trial continued today in an empty Middelburg High Court sitting, with the defence cross-examining state witness Sibonelo Vilakazi.

Zenzele Mzikayise Yende (48), Werner Potgieter (48), Moses Dlamini (59), Masodeni Elliot Msongelwa Dlamini (61), Cornelius Lourens Greyling (26), Sikhumbuzo Zikalala Nhlabathi (25), Mzwakhe Dlamini (48), and Nkosinathi Msibi (26) are accused of the alleged murder of Sifiso Thwala and Musa Nene, and the alleged attempted murder of Sthembiso Thwala on August 9, 2020. They are also facing kidnapping charges.

Vilakazi was questioned by the defence on the contents of the previous alleged ‘fabricated statement’ he made on August 10, 2020. Although he could not remember its content exactly, he recalled that it implicated only five of the accused and exonerated the others, who allegedly also took part in the attack that night.

He testified that shortly after the ‘fabricated statement’ was made, he, Zenzele Coka, Siphesihle Mchunu, and another accused were transferred to another farm in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, to work as cattle guards.

He said while there, the group spoke of how they wished they could find a person they could trust to give true statements of what had transpired, as they could foresee that the fabricated statement might later land only them in trouble, and not the others who also took part in the alleged attack.

Vilakazi said that after a few months, he stopped working on the farm and moved back home to his parents.

While there, he said he received a call from Coka, telling him he had found someone, a policeman, they could speak to about the day in question. According to Vilakazi, Coka then told him he too could confess to the policeman, which he agreed to do.

He added that he was later called by a police officer who introduced himself as Warrant Officer Nhlapho. Nhlapo later went to Vilakazi’s home on May 4, 2021, to take his statement.

Vilakazi told the court that the reason he decided to change his initial statement was due to worrying that he would be found guilty of his participation and also be held accountable for other people’s participation.

During proceedings, one of the accused could be seen smiling as the defence continued with its cross-examination.

The defence told Vilakazi that Mchunu and Coka never mentioned to Nhlapho that Potgieter had instructed them not to include him and his son in their initial statements, citing that there were people who disliked them as they were white, which could prolong the case. He further asked why the other two state witnesses could omit such an important aspect, to which Vilakazi responded that only Mchunu and Coka could answer that for themselves.

• More witnesses are expected to testify as the trial continues.