Xolisile Botha Mbebeto says had the murder accused, Stanley Bakili, stuck to his promises and paid him his R200 000 - he wouldn't be giving testimony in court. 

During the cross-examination by Bakili's legal representative Advocate Masilo Koenane, Mbebeto explained that Bakili's failure to pay him as promised had serious implications on his position within the 26 gang group in jail. Mbebeto says this has cost him dearly as he lost eight rankings within the gang.

He has been in the witness stand the entire week, detailing his involvement and his relationship with Bakili in organising a hit on Siemens. Bakili and seven men are in the dock for the murder of Siemens who was gunned down, in broad daylight, in 2018 in the basement parking of the Preller Square Shopping complex.

Mbebeto has been accused of lying and wrongly implicating Bakili. Advocate Koenane further accused him of manufacturing evidence while giving testimony. But Mbebeto stuck to his words and maintained that Bakili is the mastermind behind the killing of Siemens and that he had no reason to kill Siemens other than following instructions from Bakili.

During the cross-examination, it appeared that details contained in his guilty plea statement pale in comparison with what he told the court this week while testifying. Mbebeto, however, blamed the legal representative for the contradictions.

His cross-examination will continue on Monday.

 OFM News