Senzo Meyiwa murder trial: Judge orders one of the accused to be moved from Kgosi Mampuru prison

JOHANNESBURG - The presiding judge in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has ordered that one of the accused be moved from the Kgosi Mampuru prison, allowing him to choose which centre he wants to be held at.

Proceedings in the Pretoria High Court were delayed on Wednesday morning after three of the accused were late to arrive.

The court heard that this was because of one of the five accused, Fisokuhle Ntuli, refused to leave his prison cell, claiming he’d been tortured overnight.

Proceedings started in an unconventional way on Wednesday morning, with a Department of Correctional Services official called to court to respond the claims of torture by Ntuli.

"I have been tortured. They took my blankets and they have denied me calls. I bath with cold water," Ntuli said.

While officials at the Kgosi Mampuru prison have denied torturing Ntuli, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng gave him the choice of where he wanted to be imprisoned.

"Where do you want to go? Cape Town? I can make that order, Ntuli. Leeuwkop?"

Mokgoatlheng said that while he was not allowed to make such an order, he has ordered that Ntuli be moved to the prison of his choice by Thursday.