He's got his act back together and ready to take the stand to tell his side of the story about what happened on the night Bucs skipper Senzo Meyiwa was killed.
Longwe Twala, the son of the legendary Chicco Twala, recently made headlines for being on the run, allegedly trying to avoid telling his side of the story about what transpired on that fateful Sunday night in Vosloorus when Senzo died.
He became a hectic drug user after the beloved Bafana Bafana captain and Orlando Pirates player was murdered, says the musician.
Just like all the people who were in the house of Kelly Khumalo's mom, he told his version of the story in an interview on Metro FM in 2018.
After that, he started trending on social media for all the wrong reasons – mostly regarding his drug addiction.
Read more | The call records are rigged, claims Senzo Meyiwa’s brother, Sifiso
But then a picture of a very unhealthy Longwe surfaced on social media early this year, and it was also rumoured that he was on the run.
Some of the reports have been hugely exaggerated, says Longwe.
The only running away he has been doing for years is from himself, and that is why he decided to get clean and avail himself as a state witness on the ongoing trial and, even though he was in that dark space of addiction, he kept communicating with the police.
The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial will continue as the trial within a trial has been concluded and Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng will give his ruling on tomorrow, 14 March 2024.
Sitting down with Drum on Monday afternoon in at his father's studio in Fourways just a few hours after the cops dropped off the papers subpoenaing him to be a state witness when the trial resumes, Longwe strikes a relaxed figure.
“This is my first time speaking to a journalist after the images of me were trending and I was called a nyaope boy and that I was running away from the police. If I wanted to run away, I would’ve long left South Africa, I was going through my own stuff, and I just wanted my freedom to enjoy my drugs in peace.”
Read more | We knew that the DNA doesn't belong to the accused, says Sifiso Meyiwa as court case continues
He seems a bit shy but looks well. He just came out of the rehabilitation centre at the weekend, Longwe says.
“I have been [distracted] because of drugs, I wanted to take my drugs in peace, but I got to a point where I was fed up with taking drugs and I asked my family to help me. This was the first time I got to this point with my addiction. I was starting to get scared, I got warning signs that if I didn’t stop, I was going to die. The only way I can protect myself now is by praying.”
Asked what else he may make him 'disappear', he says there is nothing that would make him want to leave Joburg.
“I left home last year, and I was living in different drug houses, taking drugs all over the streets. I was not living my normal life. I hit rock bottom, and the only alternative was to do piece jobs.
“When I see that I am out, I would go to the nearest petrol stations, lie to people manipulate them to give me money.”
Sharing how he ended up in rehab, he says he saw his life flash before his eyes when he was attacked by a homeless drug addict in Diepkloof, Soweto, so he decided to change his ways.
He has been experimenting with drugs since age 19, Longwe admitted.
“I started with weed, then ecstasy, cocaine. And when I decided to go to rehab, I was heavy on crystal meth. I was enough and asked my brother to take me to my grandmother’s place. I went to rehab, now I am fresh from rehab, and I am six weeks clean. I am fine now; I am taking it one day at a time.”
He says he has never shied away to speak about the night Senzo Meyiwa died and he is ready to tell his version even though people have been accusing him of pulling the trigger.
It irritates him to defend himself, he added.
“Every time I try to get my life back, this thing always comes. This time around I won’t allow it to disturb me because I have nothing to do with it, everything must be left to the law. The media must stop assuming their things and lies about me because it is untrue. What I hate the most is that people believe all these lies. Why aren’t the police after me? Why is it the media that is after me?”
