Court hears Chicco Twala’s son Longwe shot and killed Senzo Meyiwa.

By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, the lawyer for accused number one, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has told the court that Longwe Twala, the son of music producer Sello “Chicco” Twala, shot and killed soccer star on the night of October 26, 2014.

Mngomezulu said this during the cross-examination of state witness and ballistic expert Lt-Col Christian Mangena at the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday.

Mangena previously testified that he conducted a crime scene reconstruction and bullet trajectory analysis on 27 October 2014, the day after Meyiwa was fatally shot while visiting his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, at her mother’s house in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni.

The state witness told the court on 30 August 2023 that he identified two bullet impacts in the kitchen of the house—one on the door leading outside and another on the floor.

Mangena further revealed that Meyiwa was shot at close range.

He also testified that the bullet fragments retrieved from the scene matched a 9mm Parabellum pistol linked to accused number three, Mthobisi Mncube.

The firearm had been confisticated from Mncube during his 2015 arrest in connection with the murder of an Alexandra taxi boss.

During the cross-examination, Mngomezulu, raised suspicions about the police’s decision to send Twala’s firearm for analysis.

He implied that it may be connected to the presence of Twala’s son, Longwe, at the murder scene.

The people who were in the house with Meyiwa were Kelly, her sister Zandile, their mother Gladness, Zandile’s boyfriend at the time Longwe, and Meyiwa’s close friends Tumelo Madlala and Mthokozisi Thwala.

Mngomezulu suggested that the evidence could prove Longwe’s involvement in Meyiwa’s murder.

“What associates Chicco Twala with the testing of the firearm is the presence of Longwe at the crime scene when Senzo was shot. There’s a theory I’m going to prove later that Longwe is the one who fired a shot killing Senzo Meyiwa,” he told the court.

However, Mangena couldn’t confirm whether Twala’s firearm was actually sent for testing.

Instead, he confirmed that all other firearms tested negative for the bullets found at the murder scene.

Mngomezulu asked Mangena who the firearm licence and firearm belonged to. Mangena said he does not know who the owner is.

“My concern was to compare the firearm with the bullet found at the scene, not to know who the owner of the firearm is.

“I received exhibits and firearms, and I do not know who the owners are.”

After a brief chat with state prosecutor, advocate George Baloyi, Mngomezulu said Baloyi told him that the owner of the firearm tested is Longwe’s father.

“I have verified the information that the licence of the firearm belonged to Chicco Twala,” said Mngomezulu.

But Mangena stood his ground: “I don’t know who the firearm owner is.”

Mngomezulu probed further: “This one bothers me because Chicco was not at the crime scene when the crime was taking place. Why take his firearm when he was not at the crime scene?

“The firearm brought to you belonged legally to Chicco Twala. I will reserve this question to [lead investigator Brigadier Bongani] Gininda.” 

Mngomezulu’s line of questioning seems to be exploring alternative explanations for the origins of the murder weapon, possibly casting doubt on the involvement of the five accused.

Five men including – Mncube, Ntanzi, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, Fisokuhle Ntuli and Sibiya – are on trial for Meyiwa’s murder.

The suspects have pleaded not guilty.

They face charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of ammunition.

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