Kelly Khumalo, his child’s mother and ex-girlfriend, has been named by two of the men accused of killing football player Senzo Meyiwa as the mastermind behind the crime.
On Wednesday, Khumalo’s name was struck from the records in the Pretoria High Court as lead investigator Brig. Bongani Gininda read the second deposition he had taken while looking into the murder case.
In the statement, which was ordered on November 20, 2020, and which details each accused person’s involvement in Meyiwa’s death, two of the accused—Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya and Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi—state that Khumalo gave them orders to shoot Meyiwa.
For the murder of Meyiwa, Sibiya, Ntanzi, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli are on trial. Each of them entered a not guilty plea.
In October 2014, Meyiwa was shot and killed in her mother’s Vosloorus house while Khumalo was there. Kelly’s mother Ntombi Khumalo, her boyfriend Longwe Twala, her sister Zandile, and two of Meyiwa’s friends who were visiting from KwaZulu-Natal were all there when the woman was murdered.
Gininda’s statement states that Khumalo withheld four mobile numbers from the police following the murder; these numbers were subsequently uncovered by mobile analysts working on the case.
According to investigations, she had a phone connection with Mncube and Ntuli.
Through the use of cellphone analyzers, it was also found that the picture in her cellphone memory album of a see-through bag filled with currency notes was taken precisely where Mncube was.
Gininda stated, “There is no plausible explanation for Kelly to be speaking over the phone with a hitman or her boyfriend’s killers and to have the same photo of a bag full of cash.”
Gininda said that correspondence between Khumalo and her sister demonstrates that, in her own words, she desired to get rid of Meyiwa as early as 2013.
She obviously detested him and desired to be free of him. She goes on to say that she wishes she had succeeded in getting rid of him earlier. Considering all of these details, it is reasonable to assume that she intended to murder him.
Records from her mobile indicate that she called several individuals from her phone following the event, but she did not contact emergency services, he added.
It was also claimed that Khumalo sought purification from a witch doctor, something the accused allegedly did following Meyiwa’s passing.
“Sworn corroborating evidence demonstrated a strong connection between the perpetrators and the charges of robbery, murder, possession of a firearm without a licence, unlawful possession of ammunition, and murderous plot. Gininda stated that Khumalo appeared to be the murder’s catalyst.
The statement claims that Sibiya, who was initially connected through underoath witness testimony and circumstantial evidence, boasted to those in KZN who were close to him about his role in the murder with the other accused.
The people disclosed his confessions to the police after a quarrel.
On May 30, 2020, he made a formal confession that further connected him to the commissioned independent officer.
Gininda claims that he names Khumalo as the one who gave them the order to assassinate Meyiwa in the purported confession.
Sibiya went on to describe the incident’s course and the crime scene.
A witch doctor he saw for purification both before and after the murder also connected him to the crime.
Gininda said that Sibiya was spotted by the witch doctor at the police station.
Sibiya claimed in the apparent confession that he was not the shooter, despite being able to positively identify Meyiwa’s chest wound.
It is also said that Ntanzi, the second invader wearing a hoodie, accused Khumalo of being involved in the murder.
Gininda claimed that Ntanzi first lied when asked about the murder, claiming that he was at work even though, in accordance with the evidence of a representative from his previous employer, he had been on leave.
On June 18, 2020, he reportedly confessed to a commissioned officer. On June 24, 2020, he allegedly confessed once again to a magistrate in the Boksburg magistrate’s court while his counsel was present.
Gininda claims that Ntanzi also signed a formal plea deal with him, but there was disagreement on the sentencing.
Additionally, Mncube is identified in the statement as the trigger puller and the invader carrying a “revolver.”
When he was arrested for Meyiwa’s killing in 2015, Mncube was already serving a 35-year term for a murder.
Ballistic testing showed that Meyiwa was killed with the same gun that was used in the murder for which he is currently serving his sentence.
The suspect with the gun, the dreadlocks, the large eyes, and the gold teeth is exactly like the person in the downloaded photos of the accused (selfies) from October 26, 2014.
This is the person that broke into the residence and demanded cash and smartphones.
“This is the same suspect who, in the course of their conflict, shot the dead in this case. Evidence shows that he speaks Zulu; in fact, all of the accused in this case speak Zulu and are acquainted with one another, according to Gininda.
Witnesses reported finding photos of Mncube with a gold tooth, and those of the murder weapon were among them.
Maphisa was connected, according to Gininda’s initial testimony earlier this week, because of a confession he made about his participation to a close friend who was private.
This comes after he requested that the private individual determine the basis for Ntanzi’s arrest.
He threatened Ntanzi not to accuse him after finding out that Ntanzi had also been detained for Meyiwa’s murder.
“After receiving the news, Maphisa instructed the individual to inform Ntanzi not to reveal his role because Ntanzi will be killed. Gininda stated that Maphisa confessed to the private person during this time regarding his involvement in this issue.
According to investigations, Maphisa was tasked with keeping an eye out for any unexpected visitors to the residence or anybody who could come by car. He also carried a tiny gun.
Ntuli, who is said to have been driving a silver VW Polo, was the getaway driver.
Through phone chats, a phone specialist last year connected Kelly and Ntuli.
For feedback and comments, please contact ZiMetro News on WhatsApp: +27 82 836 5828.
