JOHANNESBURG - The defence in Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and his co-accused's attempted murder trial is questioning Bethwell Cele's recollection of the botched assassination attempt on businessman Joe Sibanyoni four years ago.
During cross-examination in the South Gauteng High Court on Wednesday, attorney Nardus Grovè, who represents alleged hitman Tiego Mabusela, put it to Cele that he had fabricated his version of events in statements made to police after the 2021 shooting.
Grovè suggested that one or more of the shots fired by Cele could have struck Sibanyoni.
Cele rejected the allegation and appeared frustrated by the repeated questioning.
READ | State witness faces cross-examination in Matlala trial
"My Lord, I am tired of this now... Hai, I'm tired," he told the court.
The court also heard that Cele works for a company linked to Sibanyoni, although he denied being directly employed by the businessman.
"I'm not working directly for Sibanyoni, I work through another company," Cele testified.
The defence further accused Cele of tailoring his evidence and argued that inconsistencies in his police statements undermine his credibility as a witness.
Cele, who has spent two days on the witness stand as the state's first witness, previously denied being the shooter and maintained that his account of the attempted hit is truthful.
Cross-examination is expected to continue on Thursday, with Cele returning to the witness box.
- eNCA's Silindelo Sebata reports.