On Wednesday, the Pretoria High Court heard shocking allegations that murdered football star Senzo Meyiwa was not only involved with Kelly Khumalo, but also with Khumalo’s sister Zandi. This was revealed during a cross-examination of Meyiwa’s friend Tumelo Madlala by defence attorney Tshepo Thobane. Madlala is a state witness who is testifying against five men accused of murdering Meyiwa. He has so far identified one of the men as one of two attackers present when Meyiwa was killed in Vosloorus, Gauteng, in October 2014.
Thobane claimed Zandi and Meyiwa had an affair while she was living with Kelly and Meyiwa in Mulbarton He stated that a witness will testify to that and that Kelly Khumalo instructed Zandi to keep an eye on Senzo while she was busy with her music career, which he didn’t like. “Furthermore, the witness will testify that in the end, Senzo ended up having a sexual relationship with Zandi because Kelly was away for a long time,” Thobane added
Madlala replied: “I won’t deny or admit that because I know that Senzo loved women”. Witness Tumelo Madlala has titled a former miner as the man who wrestled with Senzo Meyiwa the night he was murdered. Thobane also claimed Senzo and Kelly took out a life insurance policy with Kelly as the beneficiary and signatory. Madlala stated that he had no knowledge of this.
When Meyiwa was shot in Kelly’s mother’s house, Madlala was present. He had just returned from KwaZulu-Natal when he, the Khumalo sisters, Mthokozisi Twala, and Longwe Twala sat down to watch a soccer match at the Vosloorus residence. He claimed two intruders broke into his home and demanded valuables. As Meyiwa pinned one of the attackers to the wall, a shot was fired, striking Meyiwa.
Five men who were arrested in connection with the murder have pleaded not guilty. Madlala, who appeared in a Netflix documentary that aired just before the trial began, revealed that he was paid to appear in the production.
During the cross-examination, he became irritated when Thobane interjected as Madlala answered and explained without using the Zulu court interpreter. Madlala had been giving testimony through an interpreter. “Don’t shout at me, don’t do that,” said Madlala.
Thobane responded by instructing him to behave himself. Madlala also told the court that he was given money in exchange for pictures of Meyiwa on his cellphone. “They asked me for pictures of Senzo, not football photos, but the ones I had on my phone. Some of them are still on my phone. I told them they are mine.” Madlala said.
Thobane claimed Madlala was paid to testify after hearing how Madlala, who claimed to be Meyiwa’s best friend, accepted money for the documentary and also sold Meyiwa’s photographs to the media. “It’s lies, Maybe you can explain to me how I was given the money; was it given through the bank, was it given by the hand?” he defended himself.
