The gunman is not one of the five men on trial, according to the defense attorney in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, who said on Monday that the evidence was “cooked up.”
Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya’s attorney, Thulani Mngomezulu, claimed that the case’s investigation is “far from the truth.”
He put forth a different theory, saying that Meyiwa was shot and died after a fight with his ex-girlfriend Zandile Khumalo, using a gun that belonged to Longwe Twala. Twala, the Khumalo sisters, their mother, and two of Meyiwa’s friends were at the Vosloorus residence when the football player passed away in October 2014.
Mngomezulu stated that despite the expert witness’s testimony that Meyiwa was shot with a 9mm pistol, several witnesses had described the murder weapon as a revolver.
“This case is being cooked in part because of the evidence. Chris Mangena, a ballistics expert, and the others tampered with the evidence throughout the investigation. They were covering up, and they knew who they were shielding. This whole thing is a cover-up, he declared.
This offended Sgt Batho Mogola, who was a member of the squad that looked into Meyiwa’s death, who said, “I view that as an insult when you say we have cooked.”
“We are not bored to create anything and bring it before the court; that will indicate that South Africa is a different entity when it comes to justice. We are in this courtroom in order to present the evidence we need to be tried. It is not for you to decide whether or not the evidence has been tampered with.
Mngomezulu persisted in questioning Mogola in a cross-examination aimed at undermining the police probe.
He questioned Mogola about why, during the investigation, she had not obtained statements from Meyiwa’s relatives. Soon after Meyiwa was shot, his family got reports from eyewitnesses, one of which was from Kelly Khumalo to Meyiwa’s wife, Mandisa Mkhize.
Mogola stated that lead investigator Brig. Bongani Gininda had not given her instructions to do so.
According to Mngomezulu, Meyiwa was shot while breaking up a dispute between Longwe and Zandile.
Longwe was intoxicated when he arrived at Kelly’s [mother] home, and he was carrying a special.38 revolver. My witnesses report that three shots were fired, striking three individuals. He stated, “Longwe shot himself in the ankle, killing Senzo, and Zandile was injured from another shot that went through the floor.
A sangoma named Nompilo Sangweni, who purified Kelly in 2015, a few months following the murder, was introduced by Mngomezulu.
The statement claimed that Kelly had considered suicide following the funeral.
After praying for Longwe Twala, Sangweni—a person who claims to be able to connect with God and ancestors and help people—said she saw the shadow of a man following him.
“I perceived in my spirit that he possessed the spirit of a deceased person, who was manifesting to me as a male with a dark complexion and wearing white clothing.” The day of the shooting, Meyiwa had on a white T-shirt.
Mngomezulu claims that the sangoma claims Twala acknowledged the gunshot and that he was having trouble falling asleep.
Mngomezulu declared his intention to summon Kelly.
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