Kelly Khumalo gave “orders” for police to leave her house after allegedly hiding from them, and Sello “Chicco” Twala offered to take her on an overseas holiday after Senzo Meyiwa’s murder.
This was the testimony at the Pretoria high court on Wednesday from the third state witness Tumelo Madlala, who recounted the hours after the footballer’s October 2014 murder at Khumalo’s family home in Vosloorus, Gauteng.
Drama also ensued in court when advocate George Baloyi, for the state, tried to solicit an in-court identification of the five accused before Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela. Madlala intimated that one of the two intruders who entered the house was in the courtroom, triggering a slew of objections from defence attorney TT Thobane and defence counsel advocate Zandile Mshololo.
Thobane represents the trial’s first four accused; Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Ncube and Mthokoziseni Maphisa. Mshololo represents the fifth accused, Fisokuhle Ntuli.
Asked by Baloyi whether he could identify one of the alleged intruders, Madlala said: “I was even prepared to identify the person yesterday [Tuesday]. That’s why I even asked for a break yesterday because I was annoyed with being in the same room with this person.”
The state alleges that Meyiwa was killed during a botched house robbery after two men, one of whom was dreadlocked, entered the Khumalo home.
Chicco Twala, a renowned music producer, is the father of Longwe Twala, who was also in the house when Meyiwa was killed. Longwe, according to Madlala’s testimony, was dating Zandi Khumalo, Kelly’s younger sister.
Madlala said when four of the six adults who were in the house when Meyiwa was killed returned from the hospital where the footballer was pronounced dead, they went to a house in a gated community in Mulbarton, south of Johannesburg, where Meyiwa shared a home with Kelly Khumalo.
Madlala said the four were himself, the Khumalo sisters and their mother Gladness Khumalo. He said Kelly Khumalo’s two children, one of them fathered by Meyiwa, were also with the four adults at the Mulbarton house.
“I’m just not sure about the day, but while I was still in Mulbarton, Chicco Twala arrived. Because Kelly was crying, and I was also not well, Kelly informed Chicco that this is Senzo’s friend. I heard Chicco speaking to Kelly, asking Kelly whether she did not want to go overseas for a holiday,” Madlala said.
He added that Kelly Khumalo told the security officers at the Mulbarton estate that they should not allow police to enter the complex, but that the police managed to do so somehow.
“I think Kelly must have seen them [the police]. I think they wanted to peep through the blinds, and Kelly said the electricity should be switched off. After the electricity was switched off, I don’t know who Kelly called but I think a certain order was given and they [police] just left,” Madlala said, adding that the electricity was switched back on after their departure.
“Identification in the court is inadmissible and doesn’t have value. Most importantly because my clients were not taken to an ID parade [before the trial started],” Thobane said in his objection, confirming to the judge that this would have been the first identification.
Many individuals whom are following the preliminary of the late Bafana and Orlando Pirates skipper Senzo Meyiwa, have been looking forward for now.
This is on the grounds that, the Senzo Meyiwa’s companion Madlala began giving his declaration under the steady gaze of the court.
As a dear companion of the late Bafana and Orlando Pirates chief Senzo Meyiwa, the family and the country is trusting on him that he will come clean.
Madlala during his declaration, he let the court know that Kelly Khumalo, her mother and Zandi Khumalo were raising a ruckus around town individual man who’s the suspect in Killing Senzo Meyiwa into the house.
As indicated by Tumelo Madlala, Zandi was utilizing the braces to hit him. The supports were his since he was harmed.
Tumelo Madlala additionally affirmed individuals whom were in the house when the episode occurred, and furthermore displayed during preliminary procedures today were Senzo Meyiwa was shot.
Tragically Tumelo Madlala separated and court must be concluded until tomorrow with the goal that he can chill off.
Asked by Baloyi whether he could identify one of the alleged intruders, Madlala said: “I was even prepared to identify the person yesterday [Tuesday]. That’s why I even asked for a break yesterday because I was annoyed with being in the same room with this person.”
The state alleges that Meyiwa was killed during a botched house robbery after two men, one of whom was dreadlocked, entered the Khumalo home.
Chicco Twala, a renowned music producer, is the father of Longwe Twala, who was also in the house when Meyiwa was killed. Longwe, according to Madlala’s testimony, was dating Zandi Khumalo, Kelly’s younger sister.