Pretoria - Advocate Thomas Thobane, for four of the five men accused of murdering Senzo Meyiwa, yesterday told the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, that no intruders went into the house and shot the footballer.
Thobane said it was Longwe Twala, the son of music legend Sello “Chicco” Twala, who arrived with two men, leading to the shooting of Meyiwa.
According to Thobane, Twala arrived at the house already upset, after which an argument ensued between him, Meyiwa, as well as sisters Zandi and Kelly Khumalo. He said the fight was due to the fact that Zandi had started a sexual relationship with Meyiwa after she moved into the couple's Mulbarton residence.
Thobane said Khumalo had requested Zandi to keep an eye on Meyiwa in her absence as she wanted to focus on her music career. The relationship started during that time.
Meyiwa’s friend, Tumelo Madlala, on the witness stand for a third day, vehemently denied Thobane’s version and said it was a complete lie.
Thobane also disputed the time at which the shooting occurred. Madlala said he believed the incident took place about 9pm. Thobane said there was a witness who alleged he heard the commotion about 7pm instead.
Another issue that Thobane raised was that even though Madlala indicated in his evidence in chief that his crutch was confiscated by the police, it was the testimony of the State's first witness, Sergeant Thabo Johannes Mosia, that they didn’t take it. He had said he was informed that the crutch belonged to one of the occupants of the house.
Madlala disputed this as he insisted that he had papers back home in Durban which he signed when the crutches were returned to him. Earlier, Madlala positively identified Bongani Ntanzi, the second accused, as one of the two men who allegedly attacked them on the night of the incident.
According to Madlala, Ntanzi, wearing a blue T-shirt, was the suspect who Meyiwa had pinned to the wall during the altercation. This was despite the defence’s attempts to object to the dock identification of the accused. The court also heard how attempts were being made by controversial advocate Malesela Teffo to “bulldoze” his way back into the murder trial.
As the trial resumed, Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela had to be brought in with an extra contingency of security due to what he said were mixed messages.
State advocate George Baloyi said Teffo asked to see the judge in chambers, which was refused by all counsel in the matter. Thobane said they had informed Teffo that they didn’t know the reasons and did not want to know them as they (the counsel) were not part of the reason why he wanted to see the judge.
According to advocate Zandile Mshololo, for the fifth accused, they were approached by Teffo. However, they felt as if there was no need for a meeting based on the reasons he supplied.
Mshololo said they then asked the registrar to go and get the judge.
However, Teffo stated that if they refused, he would go to the judge as they could not proceed without him seeing the judge.
“He tried to force his way in, because we even suggested that at least an email should be sent to the registrar so his request can be attended to via email. He said he wasn’t going to do that (and) he wanted to see the judge … about this case. We said he should relay that information through the registrar and he said he is going to see the judge. That was when he (was) forced to go through chambers,” Mshololo said.
Baloyi said his understanding of Teffo’s insistence on seeing the judge was in relation to being on a watching brief for docket 375.
The trial continues today.
Pretoria News