By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Vodacom’s forensic liaison supervisor, Pinky Vythilingam ill health made it difficult for her to appear in court and the proceedings were scheduled to resume on Thursday, 6th June.
Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Ntuli are accused of killing Senzo Meyiwa.
The soccer star was killed in 2014 in a shooting at the home of his then-girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s mother.
In her testimony, Pinky told the court that a sim swap was done on Meyiwa’s phone on 27 October 2014. This was just one day after his brutal murder.
“The sim-swap was done successfully at around 9:17 on the morning of the 27th of October 2014. And after the sim-swap, the SIM card was not put back on the deceased’s iPhone 5s. But it was inserted on a Nokia classic,” she revealed.
Meanwhile, she said that at this stage they were unable to determine who did the sim swap but could confirm that it was done at a retail store in Benmore shopping mall, in Sandton.
With all sim swaps usually requiring an Identity Document (ID) and proof of residence to complete the process, Pinky revealed that they were unable to determine who did the swap but could trace that 63 phone calls were made thereafter.
“Vodacom customer care was also contacted. At around 21:04 on the 27 of October 2014, the phone was on voicemail.”
Pinky also confirmed that someone other than the phone owner could do the sim swap if they presented the relevant details.
Meyiwa was with his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo at her mother Ntombi’s home in Vosloorus. They were relaxing over lunch and watching a soccer match with Kelly’s sister Zandile, Zandile’s then-boyfriend, Longwe Twala, and two of Meyiwa’s friends, who were visiting from KwaZulu-Natal.
The occupants of the house told police that two robbers entered, demanding cash and cellphones, before Meyiwa was shot in a scuffle with one of the intruders.