THE Gauteng North High Court in Tshwane heard that a witness will testify that the late Senzo Meyiwa and Zandile Khumalo had a sexual relationship before his death.
This was said by attorney for accused one to four, Advocate TT Thobane, during the cross-examination of the third state witness and friend to Meyiwa, Tumelo Madlala, on Thursday, 15 September.
“I put it to you, that a witness will come to court to testify that Meyiwa was having a relationship with Zandile, the sister to Kelly Khumalo, because Kelly was away for too long due to her music career,” said Thobane.
He said the same witness will testify that Zandile was staying with Meyiwa and Kelly at their apartment in Mulbarton and that Kelly was the one who instructed Zandile to come live with them so that she can guard Senzo while she is busy with her music career.
Madlala answered that he was not aware of that.
He told the court: “I say this because I have only been to Mulbarton twice and the first time I was with my lover, and Senzo and Kelly were in another room while me and my partner were in the other room. So where did the person you are talking about sleep?”
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Madlala also told the court that he will not agree nor deny that Senzo had a relationship with Zandile, stating that Senzo loved women.
The witness is one of the seven people who were in the house when Meyiwa was gunned down in an alleged botched robbery at the home of singer Kelly Khumalo in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni in October 2014.
Thobane further asked Madlala if he was aware that Senzo was married when he was with Kelly and also asked if that still made him a good person, as Madlala had previously said.
But before Madlala could answer, Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela interjected by asking what is the relevance in attacking the deceased’s character when he is not there to defend himself.
Thobane said: “It is the state that allowed the witness to lead the character of Senzo. Cross-examination is based on what the witness said.”
Maumela responded to Thobane by saying he won’t allow it.
“I disallow that, especially against someone who is deceased,” he said.
Thobane also asked him about Senzo’s insurance policies and life cover and if Senzo told him about them.
Madlala said: “I don’t think it would be important for him to tell me about his policies because those have nothing to do with me.”
Thobane said: “I further put it to you that a witness will come and testify on that. And will say that Kelly and Senzo opened a life cover on Senzo and that Kelly was the signatory in that cover.”
Madlala responded: “Let the witness come and tell that to the court that because just as I said, Senzo’s policies and life cover have nothing to do with me,” said Madlala.
