Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Senzo Meyiwa’s best friend Tumelo Madlala took the stand on Monday and told the Pretoria high court that the former Bafana Bafana captain wrestled with one of the alleged intruders moments before a shot was fired.
Madlala, who was in the Khumalo house in Vosloorus, Gauteng, where Meyiwa was shot in an incident the state has described as a robbery gone wrong on 26 October 2014.
He said that while he was watching soccer in the sitting room, he saw a person with dreadlocks walking in, carrying a firearm.
While recounting the national team captain’s last moments alive Madlala said: “The person was short and had big eyes. He spoke in Zulu and demanded phones and money.
“Chicco’s son, Longwe [Twala], without anybody expecting it, stood up and pushed this guy and left the house. After that we all stood up and pushed this guy. Senzo had pinned the guy on to the wall, holding his right hand against the wall.
“A gunshot went off and then I ran off to one of the bedrooms,” Madlala said.
The scuffle continued in the kitchen and a second gunshot went off.
“I could hear everyone calling out Senzo’s name. As I came out, I went straight to the dining room. I found Senzo lying next to where Kelly’s mother was seated — next to the couch and the TV stand,” Madlala said.
Madlala became emotional as he described what he had seen.
“I saw a puncture on the left side of [Meyiwa’s] chest. There was not a lot of blood; it looked like it was sprinkled on the floor,” he said.
Defence advocate Charles Mnisi told the court that during the court’s short adjournment the accused had complained that Madlala had pointed at them and said: “Aziboshwe lezinja” [These dogs must be arrested].
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng warned Madlala to keep the proceedings decent: “Let us control ourselves. I know tempers may flare, but we are all adults and let’s behave ourselves.”
The murder trial started again from scratch on 17 July with Mokgoatlheng replacing Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela after he was suspended for misconduct for failing to deliver judgments within a reasonable period.
The five people on trial — Mthobisi Ncube, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthokozisi Maphisa, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya 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.