FRIDAY, 11 AUGUST - 14:12
A FORMER police officer, who used to be a cellphone analyst, has become the eighth person to be called by the state to give evidence in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.
Elphus Mushwana testified in the North Gauteng High Court in Tshwane on Friday, 11 August, with respect to a new exhibit on digital and electronic evidence.
He told the court that he downloaded cellphone data on six phones, a Samsung S3, Apple iPhone, ZTE V795, Nokia N8, Blackberry Curve and Apple iPhone a day after Meyiwa was shot dead on 27 October 2014.
The phones belonged to the six adults in the house when the soccer star was shot dead. He told the court that one of the phones was "booted up", meaning the data was deleted. Baloyi asked if there was any information deleted on the device and who would be able to pick that up?
Mushwana said: "It will depend on the software used by the XRY program. If it's able to extract deleted data, it will, and if it can't, it won't."
The former cop said it was part of his mandate to check if there was any deleted information.
Baloyi questioned if he knew the contents of those downloads or if he just downloaded the data. Mushwana said he did not know the contents. He only downloaded the information.
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"There was also a new investigating team, and the information was handed over to those people. I didn't have enough time to peruse the data," he said.
During cross-examination, defence lawyers had no questions for the witness. The attorney for accused five, Advocate Zandile Mshololo, only asked if putting the exhibits in one exhibit bag was procedurally correct.
Mushwana said it depends on the availability of exhibit bags at the time, and when it comes to cellphones, they can mix.
She also asked about the date when the data was downloaded from the phones.
The matter has been adjourned until Monday, 14 August, with new witnesses expected to take the stand.
FRIDAY, 11 AUGUST - 11:33
Senzo Meyiwa trial: All eyes on new witness!
A NEW state witness in the Senzo Meyiwa trial is expected to take a stand on Thursday, 11 August, in the North Gauteng High Court in Tshwane.
On Thursday, 10 August, Meyiwa’s longtime friend Tumelo Madlala concluded his testimony after being grilled by four defence counsels.
During his testimony, Madlala insisted that accused number two, Bongani Ntanzi, was the intruder that Meyiwa pinned against the wall during a scuffle that ended with him being shot dead.
Meyiwa was with his close friend Mthokozisi Thwala, his then-girlfriend Kelly Khumalo, her mum Gladness Khumalo, her sister Zandie Khumalo, Zandie’s then-boyfriend Longwe Twala and her two children when two alleged intruders stormed the Khumalo home.
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Meyiwa was shot dead during the alleged botched robbery.
Five men are on trial for his murder.
Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Nkani Ntuli have all pleaded not guilty to the charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances, possession of firearms without a licence and possession of ammunition.
THURSDAY, 10 AUGUST - 14:10
THE lawyer to accused number four in the murder trial of Senzo Meyiwa has pointed out discrepancies between the witness statements.
Among others, Zandie Khumalo told the North Gauteng High Court in Tshwane that Tumelo Madlala, who is currently on the witness stand, grabbed a crutch from her hands during the scuffle. Madlala, however, told the court that he never used a crutch to hit any intruder.
"I think what I can react to is that part that says I also took a crutch. I don’t remember getting hold of any crutch in that kitchen," said Madlala.
Advocate Zithulele Nxumalo also highlighted a statement Madlala made to Warrant Officer Amanda Steenkamp in which she said the first person she interviewed was Madlala, who was traumatised.
Reading the statement, Nxumalo said Madlala saw the tussle between suspect A and Meyiwa and after hearing the gun, he ran into one of the bedrooms.
"He gave a similar description of suspect A. He could not give the description of the second suspect," read Nxumalo.
Madlala responded that this surprised him because if Nxumalo read from his first statement, he would realise that he did say he could describe the second suspect.
He went on to say that he would not comment on contradictions from other witnesses because he was giving his own statement in court.
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Nxumalo read from a statement made by Kelly Khumalo.
"I then tried to help my mother to push the tall one. I didn’t see what was happening behind me. I just heard a gunshot. I jumped backward and my sister said something hit her. I then saw Senzo run towards me, trying to hold him. I grabbed him and I could see that he was weak. He fell into my hands.
"I saw a spot of blood on his back and then I turned him over and I saw a lot of blood on his chest. He fell onto the couch, and I held him while screaming for help. At that time, the gunman was still in the house and my son was standing next to him,” read Nxumalo.
He further asked Madlala to comment on the statement.
"She must come and explain that. Because the blood she’s talking about, I only saw blood spots." Madlala said.
He said that this statement was in line with Soweto Mandlazi’s book on Meyiwa’s life.
“I would like the statement to be put aside and let that person come here and explain that nonsense,” said Madlala.
Nxumalo concluded his cross-examination.
THURSDAY, 10 AUGUST - 10:53
THE trial against five men accused of killing the late Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa in October 2014 is resuming in the North Gauteng High Court in Tshwane on Thursday, 10 August.
The five suspects, Muzi Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, and Fisokuhle Ntuli, are charged with Meyiwa’s murder, attempted murder of Zandie Khumalo, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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On Thursday morning, the court proceedings will continue with the lawyer of the accused four, Advocate Zithulele Nxumalo, cross-examining the seventh state witness and Meyiwa’s childhood friend Tumelo Madlala.
Madlala is one of the six adults who were who were there when two alleged intruders stormed the former home of singer Kelly Khumalo in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni and demanded cellphones and money before shooting Meyiwa.
He has so far told the court that, indeed, there were two intruders in the house and that no one from the people in the house shot Meyiwa, as the defence lawyers have been putting it to him.
TUESDAY, 8 AUGUST- 14:14
THE North Gauteng Hight Court in Tshwane has heard how the seventh state witness Tumelo Madlala is fed up with the notion that there were no intruders the night the late soccer star Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead.
Madlala was being cross-examined by the lawyer of accused one and two, Attorney Sipho Ramaosepele when he said: “I am tired and fed up with them saying there were no intruders.”
He also told the court that he was being disrespected by Ramosepele when he keeps saying there were no intruders in the house.
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“I was there. Yoh! I'm fed up with them saying there were no intruders,” he said.
Ramosepele told Madlala that when Khaya Ngcatshe and his neighbours returned from a park and entered the house after Meyiwa had been shot, he had not received any medical attention.
Ramosepele said Madlala, Kelly Khumalo and Mthokozisi Thwala had failed to call an ambulance during those 12 minutes.
Madlala said: “I don't understand what you mean, there was no help given to Senzo and circumstances we were not relaxed.”
Madlala was also questioned about what Kelly did during the tussle with the intruders.
Court was adjourned until Thursday, 10 August, with lawyer for accused three, Advocate Charles Mnisi to cross-examine Madlala.
TUESDAY, 8 JULY - 12:55
"I AM not scared of them. They are my enemies."
This was said by state witness Tumelo Madlala in the murder trial of his childhood friend Senzo Meyiwa in the North Gauteng High Court in Tshwane on Tuesday, 8 August.
Madlala said this after accused 2 Bongani Ntanzi, whom he identified in the dock on Monday, asked the court for Madlala to come closer to him to see his beard.
This came after Ntanzi’s lawyer Attorney Sipho Ramosepele asked Madlala to describe the second intruder, whom he said was his client.
Madlala said he had a trimmed beard and was wearing a hoodie and was tall.
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Ramosepele told the court that his client wanted the witness to approach him to see that he never had that beard he described.
But Madlala told the court that he would never get closer to him.
"He is an enemy to me. I don’t care about them, and I am not scared of them. The way they keep looking at me, I don’t care," he said.
Ramosepele told the court that Ntanzi has never had that style on his beard and that he’s always looked like he is in court.
Madlala said: "I don’t know what he means by that. It means I am mad. And he will say that and never admit to it."
Madlala said that when he first entered the courtroom, he saw this person and knew he had seen him before.
"And I asked myself, where have I seen this person before. I also remembered him by how he had trimmed his beard,” he said.
Ramosepele asked Madlala if he had ever seen his client before.
He said the first time he saw the accused, they were wearing masks.
“I remember, I think it was in 2020 when Senzo’s brother Sifiso came with a paper and asked me who shot Senzo from these people,” he said.
TUESDAY, 8 JULY - 11:25
THE childhood friend of the late Senzo Meyiwa is expected to return to the hot seat where he will be quizzed by defence counsel for accused one and two, lawyer Sipho Ramosepele.
Tumelo Madlala gave evidence as a witness on Monday, August 7. He told the court that he was placed in a witness protection programme in 2019.
This was after he was allegedly harassed by Meyiwa’s family, and he confided in investigator Colonel Joyce Buthelezi about the incident.
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He said he stayed in the witness protection programme for three weeks and then decided to leave after certain promises which were made to him did not materialise, accusing the investigator of having an agenda.
He claimed that Buthelezi wanted him to change his statement that there were no intruders in the house.
Madlala was called to order by Presiding Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng after the suspects raised a complaint against him.
They told the court that when the proceedings were adjourned, Madlala said to them on his way out: "Ma zibanjwe izinja", meaning that the dogs should be arrested.
The Judge asked him not to allow his temper to get the better of him.
The five suspects Muzi Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi and three other accused, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, and Fisokuhle Ntuli are charged with Meyiwa’s murder, attempted murder of Zandie Khumalo, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
MONDAY, 7 JULY - 16:05
THE North Gauteng High Court in Tshwane heard that a lead investigator in the controversial second docket surrounding the death of Senzo Meyiwas had an agenda.
This is according to Tumelo Madlala, a state witness and childhood friend of Meyiwa, when he testified in court on Monday, 7 August.
Tumelo said Colonel Joyce Buthelezi wanted him to say no one entered the house on the night Meyiwa was shot dead in October 2014.
He said even during the statements Buthelezi made in 2019, he could tell that she wanted things to change.
"In that house, I had no friends other than Senzo and Mthoko and there was no way I would want to protect anyone.
“I don’t see a need for me to lie about that. Why would I say there was no one who entered the house when there were people who had entered the house?” Tumelo said.
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He said he thinks Buthelezi had an agenda because at first, she had talked to him about putting him into a witness protection programme, which made him realise she was had an agenda.
“Even when she took me to Senzo’s grave, it made me realise there was an agenda,” he said.
Tumelo also told the court that he knows about the second docket, which implicates him and the other five people in the house.
“Buthelezi is playing. I know about the docket. If work is done on the docket maybe she can come to court and explain how the docket came about,” he said.
Tumelo also told the court how Kelly Khumalo refused to hand over Meyiwa’s car after his death.
He said days after Senzo was shot dead, he went home in KZN and told the Meyiwa family what had happened.
He said when he got there, Meyiwa’s mum asked why they were driving her son’s car when he was no longer alive.
“I told her that was not in my control because even when the police told Kelly about the car, she said that was her baby daddy’s car and no one can take it away from her,” he said.
Court adjourned for overnight to Tuesday, 8 August.
Monday, 7 August - 12:53
TUMELO Madlala made a dramatic dock identification of accused two on Monday, 7 August.
Madlala, who was a childhood friend of the late Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa, identified accused two as one of the intruders that invaded the Khumalo home in Vosloorus, Gauteng on the night Meyiwa was gunned down in October 2014.
During his evidence-in-chief, Madlala told the North Gauteng High Court that accused two, Bongani Ntanzi is one of the intruders who had a hand in death of the soccer star.
He said he remembers him because during the tussle, he managed to throw a blow at Ntanzi.
“Senzo was holding the taller one’s upper arm and had pressed him against the wall. I don’t even want to say the second suspect. He was holding this one, this one,” he said (pointing at Ntanzi).
Presiding Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng instructed accused two to stand up.
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Madlala continued to say: “Yes, this one. I even punched him on the face and after that a shot went off."
He said the accused was allegedly wearing a jersey-jacket that had a hoodie.
Madlala is the second witness to do a dock-identification, pointing at Ntanzi as the one of the two intruders.
The witness also got emotional when he had to describe the position that Meyiwa was lying in after he was shot.
He said he was laying as if he was hiding between the TV stand and the couch.
“He was lying on the side facing up and the legs were on the carpet. The torso was in between the couch and TV stand,” Madlala told the court.
Madlala said he then saw a puncture on the left side of Meyiwa’s chest and there were droplets of blood from where he was lying.
Monday, 7 August - 10:50
THE case against five men who have been accused of murdering the former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa is continuing in the North Gauteng High Court in Tshwane this morning, 7 August.
Meyiwa’s childhood friend Tumelo Madlala, who was also one of the six adults who were in the house when Meyiwa was gunned down, will be taking the stand.
Madlala is expected to give his version of events about the fateful night in October 2014.
He is the seventh witness to be called by the state since the trial resumed in July.
Muzi Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi and three other accused, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, and Fisokuhle Ntuli are charged with Meyiwa’s murder, attempted murder of Zandie Khumalo, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Friday, 4 August -14:38
AFTER Senzo Meyiwa was declared dead and after they had made statements, Mthokozisi Thwala went to Senzo’s home in Mulbarton, Joburg to get his ID.
This was part of his testimony in the North Gauteng High Court on Thursday, 4 August during the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.
He said when he got there, it was packed with journalists, but he managed to go past and when he got inside, he found singer Kelly Khumalo and her sister Zandie Khumalo with a lot of their media friends.
“I then asked for Kelly and I asked if she had Senzo’s ID. She said she would never give me the ID,” he said.
Advocate Zandile Mshololo, the lawyer for accused number five, then asked Mthokozisi why Kelly refused.
He said Kelly told him she was waiting for Senzo’s brother and father to come get it.
“At first, she refused to hand over Senzo’s belongings, but there were police and other people I won’t mention and she eventually gave them the ID only,” he said.
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Mshololo also asked Mthokozisi if he could describe the nature of the relationship between Senzo and Kelly.
Thwala said: “What I can say is that they loved each other. Let me just hold it there. If I speak it’s going to seem as if, you know.”
Mshololo asked him to try and describe it.
“What if I ask not to respond. Because Senzo was in a relationship with Kelly, but most of the time I was not there. I have also never made it a secret that I was also Mandisa’s friend.
“And Senzo would avoid me if he was going to be with Kelly. We once even a confrontation about that,” said Mthokozisi.
Mshololo told Mthokozisi that Zandie said he was in Joburg for lobola negotiations, but refuted the claim and said there is no such.
He said that there were no plans for Senzo to pay lobola for Kelly around the time of the soccer star's murder.
Mshololo completed her cross-examination. State prosecutor George Baloyi told the court that on Monday, 7 August they will introduce a new witness.
Friday, 4 August - 10:30
THE Senzo Meyiwa murder trial against five men is continuing in the North Gauteng High Court on Friday, 4 August.
The childhood friend of the late soccer star, Mthokozisi Thwala, is currently in the hot seat being cross-examined by defence lawyer for accused 4, Advocate Zithulele Nxumalo.
Before the adjournment on Thursday 3 August, Zithulule put it to Thwala that there were no intruders the night Meyiwa was gunned down at the home of his then girlfriend and baby mama, singer Kelly Khumalo in Vosloorus, Gauteng on 26 of October 2014.
Nxumalo said Meyiwa was shot by one of the six adults who were in the house. This includes Kelly’s mother, her sister Zandie Khumalo, Meyiwa’s friends, Thwala and Tumelo Madlalala and lastly Zandie’s then boyfriend, Longwe Thwala.
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“I put it to you that the deceased was shot by one of the people in the house, not the two children and he did not kill himself,” said Nxumalo.
Thwala refuted the claims and told the court that was not true because there were two intruders in the house and one of them shot Meyiwa.
“I don’t know what to say because two people entered. It means we are still going to be here for another nine years. I have no business to protect anyone in the house over my friend, Senzo,” said Thwala.
Nxumalo is expected to conclude his cross-examination. Lawyer for accused five Advocate Zandile Mshololo will start with her grilling.
Thursday, 3 August - 15:45
DURING cross-examination by defence lawyer of accused one and two, Sipho Ramosepele, the attorney pointed out some contradictions and inconsistencies in the statements made by the state witness to the police and his testimony in court.
Mthokozisi Thwala, the childhood friend of the late soccer star Senzo Meyiwa, was in the hot seat in the North Gauteng High Court on Wednesday, 2 July, when he was grilled by Ramosepele.
Ramosepele said the first statement Thwala made was on 28 October 2014, and Thwala said he did the statement the day after the incident on 27 October 2014.
Mthokozisi told the court that it was the police officer who wrote the statement, but he went there on 27 October.
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In his statement, Thwala said that the intruders said "voetsek", give us cellphones and money. But in court, he said theintruders only demanded cellphones and money and they didn’t say anything else.
Thwala said he could not remember what intruder said, if he did say voetsek or not.
Ramosepele quotes from a statement Thwala deposed: "The suspect was wearing a hoodie and the hoodie was covering his head, and I could see the dreadlocks protruding through the hoodie near his ears."
He further quoted from the statement that: "I can’t remember the colour of the hoodie jacket the suspect was wearing. I can remember that the second suspect was wearing a hat, but I do not know the colour of the hat."
Ramosepele asked which suspect was he talking about?
Thwala said the cop who was taking the statement made a mistake and said that the hoodie was worn by the second suspect.
“I have already said the one with dreadlocks was wearing a hat. He’s now confusing the hoodie and the hat,” he said.
Thursday, 3 August - 14:40
THE childhood friend of the late Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa, has given reasons as to why he refused to be part of the Netflix documentary about Meyiwa.
He told the North Gauteng High Court on Thursday, 3 August that he was approached three times by a group of people who wanted him to be part of the documentary which was released in 2022.
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He said at first, the people came with Senzo's brother.
“I was approached by Senzo’s brother to be part of the show. They told me that the documentary was about Senzo. They wanted me to be part of it as Senzo’s friend,” he said.
Thwala told the court that he was informed that the purpose of the documentary was to assist and document the life of Senzo and how he got into soccer.
He said he refused because the reasons given to him were not valid.
Thwala said they approached his lawyer, and they also went to his parent's home, but he still refused.
“Maybe it’s because I had a bad experience with the media and something that has to do with Senzo.
“There was a time when Senzo’s brother came to me with author Soweto Mandlanzi. They wanted me to be part of a book that they were writing. They took me to Senzo’s father who is late now, and he told me the book won’t be finished without me being part of it. At the end I agreed,” said Thwala.
He said he ended up doing the book, but the things that he said and those that were asked were changed in the book.
“I told him to fix it and he said he will, but when the book was published nothing was fixed,” he said.
WEDNESDAY, 02 August - 17:22
Senzo Meyiwa trial: Senzo Meyiwa's friend claims he was tortured by cops!
THEY wanted me to agree that I killed Senzo.
These were the words of Mthokozisi Thwala, the childhood friend of the late Bafana Bafana an Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa.
Thwala testified in the North Gauteng High Court on Wednesday 2 August, where he told the court that he was tortured by the police who wanted him to admit to killing Senzo.
He said he was preparing to go to a rally on 12 January 2019 when two officers, a man and woman, arrived while he was still getting dressed.
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“When I looked before I could open for them, I recognised the female officer as Joyce Buthelezi because I had seen her before at the beginning of the case. I ended up getting the name of the other officer, Makhubo,” he said.
Thwala said he wasn't happy the officers arrived without notice and told him they were there to fetch him for another ID parade.
He said he didn’t want to go at first, but eventually agreed to travel with them to Tshwane. When they got there, he was surprised to find he was the only person there.
"I asked where the other witnesses were and Mam Joyce told me they too would be fetched. We then arrived at some office where we found Buthelezi and there were pictures of her on the wall," he said.
He said they got there at about 10pm and when he asked about the ID parade, Buthelezi told him it would happen. He said when she left the office, she left as though she was going to prepare for the ID parade.
“Two officers arrived while I was busy on my phone informing my family and Mandisa (Senzo’s wife) that I had arrived. One of them grabbed the phone out of my hands and asked who I was talking to.
“Then the other one asked me who killed Senzo. As I was about to answer, they started hitting me with their hands and kicking me. They then accused me of killing Senzo. They continued to assault me saying I didn’t want to talk,” said Thwala.
Thwala said they assaulted him for an hour and kept saying he would admit why he killed Senzo.
He said:
He told the court that they beat him for about six hours until he peed himself.
“What hurt me the most was that these were the people who are supposed to be protecting me, but they were the ones abusing me like that,” he said.
The court was adjourned overnight.
WEDNESDAY, 02 August - 16:00
Senzo Meyiwa trial: 'Kelly's mum attacked intruder!'
SENZO Meyiwa's childhood friend has again detailed the events that led to the death of the soccer player.
Mthokozisi Thwala is one of the six adults who were in the house the night Meyiwa was shot dead at the home of his then girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni in October 2014.
He is the second witness who saw the shooting to be called by the state. Leading evidence in the North Gauteng High Court on Wednesday, 2 August, Thwala said they had just finished eating and having a light conversation when he saw someone appearing behind Kelly.
“When this person appeared, he was behind Kelly. I then looked at Senzo. What I remember is that he asked for phones and money. Kelly ran into a bedroom,” he said.
Thwala said at first, he thought it was a joke. When asked why he thought so, Thwala said: “I don’t’ know why. At home they know I love to joke but what made me realise it was serious was when I saw a firearm. It was in his right hand.”
Thwala told the court that everything happened so fast and the first person that stood up was Longwe Twala. He said he went towards the person who was carrying the firearm, pushed him aside and then went past.
“That’s when I saw everyone standing up to attack the intruder.
“I remember Senzo having a scuffle with the person who had a firearm. The person wasn’t dark or light. He was just fair in complexion, had dreadlocks and protruding cheek bones,” said Thwala.
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Thwala said during the scuffle he noticed the second person who was behind the first intruder.
He further told the court that the pushing and shoving was happening towards the kitchen.
“I then took the phone. On my way back to the kitchen then I bumped into Christian, Kelly’s son. I remember picking Christian up from left to right, moving him from harm’s way. Kelly's mother took Tumelo Madlala’s crutches and assaulted one of the intruders,” said Thwala.
He further told the court Meyiwa was scuffling with the gun-wielding intruder, and Tumelo was busy with the tall one.
He said Kelly's mum was also busy with the crutches trying to assault the intruders.
“What I can’t remember is who exactly they were trying to assault.”
Thwala was asked to describe the second intruder. He said what he remembers is that he was wearing a hoodie and the first intruder was wearing a jersey jacket.
He said what he remembers is hearing a gunshot.
Thwala said after hearing the gunshot, there was a short separation.
“As I ran out, Senzo was coming towards the fridge. As I ran out, the second intruder followed me,” said Thwala.
TUESDAY, 01 August - 17:05
Senzo Meyiwa trial: Accused's 'killing machine' pics shared!
THE fifth state witness in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has taken the hot seat in the North Gauteng High Court on Monday, 1 August.
Sergeant Moses Mabasa was giving photo evidence downloaded on the phone of accused three, Mthobisi Mncube, when he was arrested in 2015 on a matter unrelated to this case.
Mabasa showed the court photos found on the phone which included guns, ammunition, axes, a stack of money and photos of people with controversial labels.
Among others, several photos of guns saved as "ensimbi ehlanyisa olova" some are saved as "ishiya'bazali' and "my killing machine".
Some of the photos were shown by former state witness Lambertus Steyn, which he told the court is a photo of Mncube.
In the photo he has dreadlocks and a beige outfit, which fits the description of the alleged intruders given by first state witness Zandie Khumalo, who was in the house with the Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Meyiwa in 2014.
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Lawyer for accused three, Advocate Charles Mnisi asked Mabasa to describe one of the photos.
Mabasa said he sees a man on the right wearing beige clothes and has dreadlocks.
Mnisi asked him where he sees the dreadlocks. Mabasa said he sees them due to the lines on his head.
“And you are basing that on the fact that there are lines?” asked Mnisi.
The state witness said he was only trying to elaborate so that Mnisi could understand.
Mnisi conceded that the person in the photo is indeed his client, Mncube.
Talking about Mabasa’s role in the investigation, Mnisi asked him to explain what exactly he was tasked to do.
Mabasa said he was asked by Brigadier Bongani Gininda to compile data and photos that he found on the cellphone or memory card which were handed to him.
Mabasa said that the information was downloaded by Sergeant Nkosi in 2015 and upon the request of the investigation officer.
“I had to go fetch the information to compile this report, which was in August 2020,” he said.
The matter adjourned until tomorrow (2 August).
TUESDAY, 01 August - 13:45
THE state witness had to defend his qualifications and experience during the cross-examination into the killing of Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa in the North Gauteng High Court on Tuesday, 1 August.
As cellphone analyst and investigator Colonel Lambertus Steyn was about to conclude his testimony, he was forced to defend his expertise in the cold case department after the defence lawyers demanded to know if he was an expert.
Steyn has been giving damning evidence against four of the five accused, from the data collection he made through their cellphone numbers, from months before the gunning down of Meyiwa to after the incident.
He even linked singer Kelly Khumalo to accused number five two months before Meyiwa was shot.
During the cross-examination, the lawyer for accused number five, Advocate Zandile Mshololo, questioned if the information presented by Steyn was compiled by him or given to analyse.
Steyn said that he was given the download of information, and as an analyst, he did so.
Mshololo further questioned if he had formal education to be an expert or if he was just a police officer.
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“You can call me whatever you see fit,” said Steyn.
He further said he did short courses to add to his policing degree.
The presiding, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng, asked Steyn if he would like to tell the court whether he is an expert or not.
“I am an expert, my Lord. I was declared an expert by a judge in 2009 for the work I did on the case I was working on then,” he said.
Steyn told the court he has been in the force since 1982, and he has been moving up ranks and changing departments, including working for the Hawks, before joining the cold case department.
He said that he has been in that department for two years but has also assisted them before while he was working for the Hawks.
Steyn also said he had given evidence in the High Court on about 10 cases and more than 50 cases while in the regional court.
He said that no court has ever dismissed his evidence.
TUESDAY, 01 August - 11:03
WATCH LIVE | Senzo Meyiwa Trial continues
MONDAY, 31 JULY - 16:00
Senzo Meyiwa Trial: Longwe 'didn't shoot Meyiwa'!
ACCORDING to Lambertus Steyn, a state witness in the Senzo Meyiwa trial, Longwe Twala did not shoot the late Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.
He told the North Gauteng High Court on Monday, 31 July that he arrived at this conclusion due to an SMS that Longwe sent to two cellphone numbers hours after Senzo was shot.
In his investigation, the phone analyst and investigator showed the court the text that was sent by Longwe, which read: “Senzo is dead. They just shot him in front of us.”
He said according to the message, Longwe did not shoot him.
When accused number four's lawyer, Advocate Zithulele Nxumalo asked Steyn how he arrived at that conclusion, Steyn said it was his opinion that he saw the shooting happen.
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Nxumalo referred to Zandie Khumalo’s testimony that when Senzo was shot, Longwe was nowhere near the house.
“I don’t know how to comment on that, but from the text message, it shows that Longwe was in the vicinity and saw the deceased get shot,” said Steyn.
The state witness also had a heated clash with the lawyer of accused number three, Charles Mnisi, pertaining to the picture of the suspect, Mthobisi Mcube.
Last week, Steyn was asked if he could point out which of the accused is in the photo found on one of the phones and he pointed at Mncube.
Mnisi wanted to know how he knows it’s the same person to which Steyn said the features of the man in the photo are the same as Mncube.
“Are you sure it’s him? What about his skin complexion?” asked Mnisi.
Steyn said: “I didn’t say anything about his skin complexion. Don’t put words into my mouth now,” he said.
Lawyer for accused five, Advocate Zandile Mshololo, also poked holes in Steyn’s evidence which implicated her client Fisokuhle Ntuli.
She questioned Steyn if the number that was allegedly in communication with Kelly Khumalo belonged to Ntuli as per the RICA information.
He said no, it was not registered in his name. He told the court that the people who were investigating this mater were the ones who told him that the number belonged to Ntuli.
Mshololo asked Steyn if from his experience and knowledge could there have been talks or plans that were unlawful between Kelly and the number it was said belonged to her client.
Steyn said: “That I cannot know. We can only trace the call but not what is being said.”
The matter adjourned until Tuesday morning, 1 August.
MONDAY, 31 JULY - 14:22
Senzo Meyiwa Trial: 'I didn't call anyone!'
ACCUSED number one in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial denied being in contact with the other accused or communicating with a man named Mabungu Ntuli.
This was heard in the North Gauteng High Court on Monday, 31 July during the cross-examination of Colonel Lambertus Steyn by accused one and two's lawyer, Attorney Sipho Ramosepele.
Steyn made some corrections from the evidence he made in court last week, saying accused three was in communication with accused five and that he is further linked to accused one and two.
He said in fact, accused three was in communication with a man named Mabungu Ntuli, who has since died.
Last week, a phone analyst and investigator told the court that according to their investigations, all the accused were linked to one another via phone calls. But accused two, Bongani Ntanzi, said he has never been in contact with the other suspects and that Mabungu never called him.
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He said even though his number is part of the numbers that was linked, he denies ever contacting them.
During his cross examination, Ramosepele said his client denies using the cellphone number linked to him to call or receive calls from the other accused any time before 2019. He said he only bought that phone and Sim in 2019.
He said that Ntanzi denies the phone linked to him was the phone allegedly confiscated from a prison and that he has never been held nor did he own an iPhone 6.
Steyn responded that the investigators would be better placed to respond to that. He further conceded that it is not a crime for people to call each other unless a person can hear their conversation.
The court also heard that all the people in the house on the night Senzo was killed failed to call the police and an ambulances after he was shot.
Ramosepele concluded his cross-examination, while accused three's lawyer, Advocate Charles Mnisi, has started with his.
MONDAY, 31 JULY - 11:35
Senzo Meyiwa Trial: Expert grilled!
MONDAY, 31 JULY - 7:25
Five bodies found with gunshot wounds!
GAUTENG police responded to a shooting incident in Riverlea and the nearby Zamimpilo informal settlement.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said at the scene and during the investigation, police discovered five bodies with gunshot wounds.He said preliminary investigation suggests that two rival groups of alleged illegal miners were shooting at each other in the area, which led to the death of five people.ALSO READ: CHURCH: We give you 14 days to move out!“Police have deployed members from the Tactical Response Team and Public Order Policing to monitor the area. A case of murder, with five counts, has been opened,” Masondo said. Masondo urged anyone who might have information that can help in the investigation or assist in the arrest of the suspects to call the nearest police station or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
