Senzo Meyiwa. File photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images
Defence advocate Charles Mnisi told the Pretoria high court on Friday that a state witness had informed Senzo Meyiwa’s childhood friend Tumelo Madlala that the footballer was shot dead in October 2014 while trying to stop a fight between Zandile Khumalo and Longwe Twala. The witness’s name is being withheld over concerns for their safety.
Khumalo, the sister of Meyiwa’s girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo and Twala, the son of music producer Sello “Chicco” Twala, were among the people in the Vosloorus, Gauteng, home of the Khumalo family, where the Bafana Bafana captain was killed, in what the state says was a botched robbery.
On Friday, during Zandile Khumalo’s cross-examination before Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng, Mnisi read out a statement from the unnamed state witness.
The trial started from scratch this week, with Khumalo as the first state witness, after
Mokgoatlheng replaced the previous judge Tshifhiwa Maumela who was suspended for misconduct for failing to deliver judgments within a reasonable period.
“This witness will come to court and tell the court that on the 26 October 2014 he received a call from your sister, Kelly Khumalo, but they could not talk as there was a communication breakdown and when they called back they could not reach her,” Mnisi said to Khumalo.
“He will tell the court that he then called Tumelo Madlala, who informed him that Senzo has been hit by a bullet and this happened as Senzo was trying to intervene or separate a fight that was happening between you and Longwe. That is the information contained in the statement.”
Khumalo rejected this, stating: “Firstly, Longwe and I were not fighting. We were very happy and in a very good space. For me to invite him to come to my home, that explains that things were good between us. What is being said in this statement I know nothing about.”
The five people on trial, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Ncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Ntuli, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, illegal possession of a firearm and the illegal possession of ammunition.