Zandile Khumalo, the sister of the late Senzo Meyiwa’s girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo. (Instagram/ZandileKhumalo)
The judge had to intervene on Monday after defence advocate Zithulele Nxumalo, representing one of the five men on trial for the October 2014 murder of football player Senzo Meyiwa, told the court that he was feeling intimidated by state witness Zandile Khumalo.
Khumalo, the sister of Senzo Meyiwa’s girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo, was 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.
During cross-examination before Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng on Monday, Khumalo bit Nxumalo’s head off, saying: “Please watch your tone when speaking to me. I am not your wife, I am someone else’s wife. Do not raise your voice at me.”
Nxumalo, who is representing murder accused Mthokoziseni Maphisa in the trial, then turned to the judge and said: “I am here to assist the court and the witness is intimidating me.” Mokgoatlheng called Khumalo to order and reminded her that she was in a court of law.
Undeterred, Khumalo retorted that she was the one assisting the court and Nxumalo must not raise his voice to her.
The trial started from scratch last 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.
The five people on trial, Maphisa, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Ncube and Fisokuhle Ntuli, have pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, illegal possession of a firearm and the illegal possession of ammunition.