Witness who was present when Meyiwa was shot to testify in court

A new witness who was in the house the night former Bafana Bafana captain, Senzo Meyiwa, was shot will take the stand at the North Gauteng High Court on Monday, 12 September. 

The trial of the five men accused of the murder of Senzo Meyiwa resumed on Monday, 5 September, following a lengthy postponement which was to grant the defence of accused 5 enough time to peruse the contents of the second docket which continues to take centre stage in the ongoing trial. 

WHO COULD THE WITNESS BE? 

Meyiwa was shot at singer Kelly Khumalo’s home in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni on 26 October 2014. There were seven people in the house when the goalkeeper was shot, Meyiwa’s then girlfriend Kelly Khumalo, her sister Zandile Khumalo-Gumede and her then boyfriend Longwe Twala, her mother Gladness Khumalo, Meyiwa’s two friends Tumelo Madlala and Mthokozi Twala. 

The five men who are currently on trial Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifiso Ntuli were arrested in 2020 and they all pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The South African has been reliably told that the State will call its third witness, one of the people who were in the house the night Meyiwa was shot and will be testifying on Monday, 12 September. The cross-examinations of first and second State witnesses forensic officer, Sergeant Thabo Mosia and Patrick Mthethwa who were amongst the first to arrive at the scene. 

ALSO READ: ‘Senzo has been shot’: Could the first calls made be key in the trial?

POLICE ‘INCOMPETENCE’ IN THE SPOTLIGHT 

While giving his testimony, Mthethwa who worked in the Crime Prevention Unit at Vosloorus Police Station said they received a call about a shooting at 20:53 and immediately rushed to the scene. He said they found a man who referred to himself as Philani, brother to Kelly’s mother, Gladness Khumalo who had the house keys and opened it for them. 

Mthethwa said that when they arrived at the scene told them that he had no idea what had happened as he wasn’t there. They (police) were then told that people who have information are at Botshelong Hospital and they rushed there where they met Kelly Khumalo, her mother and also saw Meyiwa’s lifeless body with a gunshot wound around the chest. 

Mthethwa further testified that it was only on their second return when they were accompanied by Gladness Khumalo that they cordoned off the scene and started collecting exhibits. The witness also estimated that they spent roughly an hour at the hospital.

Defence lawyer for accused 5, Advocate Zandile Mshololo questioned why the house key was left with Themba, and why the police officers never bothered to confirm the uncle’s status asking Mthethwa what if the alleged uncle was one of the culprits. She further asked Mthethwa if he was aware of what happened during the time they left the crime scene.

“You were supposed to take the house keys from him and lock the house, and you did not do that. You left the crime scene with the person whose status was not clarified at the time,” she said.

Mshololo further referred to statements deposed by two women who claimed that they entered the house and they saw water on the floor and a neighbour, Maggie Phiri tiding up saying she didn’t want police to see that the people who were in the house had been drinking.

Notably, Mthethwa’s testimony contradicted that of Mosia on many things that he told the court during his evidence in chief and while he was under cross-examination.

ALSO READ: Witness to testify Kelly Khumalo allegedly shot Senzo Meyiwa