Cape Town – The State’s first witness, Bethwell Cele, returned to the witness stand on Wednesday as the trial of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his four co-accused continued in the High Court.
The accused are standing trial in connection with the fatal shooting of taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni, who was ambushed shortly after driving his red Ferrari into the Centurion Golf Estate. Gunmen travelling in a white BMW allegedly opened fire on Sibanyoni with AK-47 rifles moments after he entered the estate.
During cross-examination, defence lawyer Nardud Grove told the court that the legal team had visited the crime scene on Tuesday and again on Wednesday morning. Referring to several trees near the estate, Grove asked Cele to estimate the distance between the trees and the spot where he and another individual, Mazibuko, had taken cover during the shooting.
WATCH | Cele was asked about how many trees and parking bays there were that he was guarding on the day. Grove asked exactly how many there were (parking and trees) between the Ferrari and the Golf 7. This prompted Cele to answer that he was not employed to guard trees and count… pic.twitter.com/uBBhMOcUzg
— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) July 22, 2026
Cele told the court he was unable to estimate the distance.
“I’m not good at maths or science,” he said.
He then suggested that he be given an opportunity to revisit the scene to measure the distance himself.
“That maybe I can be given an opportunity or a chance for me to go there after the adjournment, to go there and count for myself the paces. Maybe I will come back and be able to tell the country the paces from where I was standing to the robots,” Cele told the court.
WATCH | Lawyer, Nardud Grove, told the high court it visited the crime scene yesterday and this morning, noting several trees near the estate. Counsel asked state witness Bethwell Cele to estimate the distance between the trees and where he and Mazibuko had taken cover, but Cele… pic.twitter.com/3fTFskegxY
— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) July 22, 2026
Grove also questioned Cele about the number of trees and parking bays between Sibanyoni’s Ferrari and a Volkswagen Golf 7 on the day of the shooting.
Cele responded that counting trees and parking bays was not part of his responsibilities.
“I do want to help the court but I don’t have any information of the number of trees that are there. The job there is not to only look after parking and car. I was hired to look after the property, residents, and their safety,” he said.
Cross-examination is expected to continue as the trial proceeds.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
