By: Natasha Archary
Tensions are building in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial as first state witness, Zandie Khumalo’s cross-examination continues in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
On Monday, 24 July, the younger sister of singer Kelly Khumalo lost her cool with defence attorney, Advocate Zithulele Nxumalo, after a number of statements Zandie made in her testimony last week, were picked apart.
Nxumalo questioned Zandie’s version of events, and one detail she relayed in particular was questioned, relating to her boyfriend at the time, Longwe Twala.
In her testimony, Zandie claimed Longwe was not there when former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa was shot.
However, in a text-message Longwe sent, he stated that Senzo Meyiwa was shot in front of them, suggesting that Longwe Twala was in fact present.
Zandie claimed that Longwe was the first to push one of the five men, accused of barging into her family’s Vosloorus home, holding them at gunpoint, demanding valuables, and gunning down Meyiwa in the botched home invasion.
During Zandie’s cross-examination, Nxumalo also questioned why her statement and testimony about attempting to dial 10111 did not add up.
In her statement at the time of Meyiwa’s murder, Zandie failed to mention that she attempted to dial 10111, but in court last week, she claims she tried to call the emergency line but, “my mind went blank.”
Zandie told Advocate Nxumalo to watch her tone with her, as she’s not his wife.
When Nxumalo suggested that one of the occupants inside the Khumalo’s family home had pulled the trigger that shot Meyiwa, Zandie exploded, “You can put it to me 50 times until you foam at the mouth if that helps you sleep at night, what I am saying is that there were intruders.”
Nxumalo said the Khumalo family have a tendency of pointing the blame for Meyiwa’s murder at innocent people, as was the case when the man first arrested for the footballer’s murder, Zamokuhle Mbatha was released, having been found not guilty.
The five men accused of murdering Meyiwa are Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Fisokuhle Nkani Ntuli and Mthokoziseni Maphisa.
All five men have pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.
Also read: Tremor reported in parts of Soweto and Roodepoort over the weekend
