By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The murder trial of Senzo Meyiwa resumed on Friday at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, with the testimony of Zandile Lorraine Khumalo (Zandi).
Meyiwa was gunned down in what was described as a botched robbery in the presence of his then-girlfriend Kelly, her mother Ntombi, Zandile,and her boyfriend Longwe Twala and Senzo’s friends Mthokozisi Thwala and Tumelo Madlala.
Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli are on trial for the murder. They are also charged with attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of firearms without licences and possession of ammunition.
Khumalo said that after Meyiwa was shot by two intruders, they rushed him to a hospital in his BMW X6.
En-route to hospital, Khumalo said she touched Meyiwa’s face and told him to keep his eyes open, saying they were almost at the hospital.
Khumalo became emotional as she told the court that she was trying to keep Meyiwa conscious.
Once at the hospital, Khumalo said she ran in and screamed for help.
Later, Khumalo and Kelly’s mother arrived at the hospital and asked where Meyiwa was.
She was directed to the room where he had been taken by hospital staff.
Khumalo said: My mother then walked towards that room and a few seconds later, my mother started crying.
She said her mother and a doctor told them that Meyiwa had died.
Khumalo said, after Meyiwa had been declared dead, she accompanied her sister Kelly to the room where his body lay. Kelly kissed his forehead and started removing his jewellery, earrings and watch.
When the sisters left the hospital room, they found that many people had already arrived, among them Orlando Pirates players with their girlfriends, musician Chicco Twala (Longwe’s father), and Meyiwa’s lawful wife Mandisa Mkhize.
Khumalo said Mkhize and her friends walked towards Kelly and started pulling out her braids.
She said that Kelly was being assaulted while Mkhize was screaming, “You killed him.”
Khumalo said she stopped the fight and told Mkhize that it was not the time to fight.
Thereafter, they left back to the house.
This version conflicted with that of Thwala, who said there was a fight at the hospital but that Mkhize was not involved as she was standing with him.
The murder trial was postponed to June 12 because of the unavailability of one of the lawyers involved in the case.
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Video Courtesy of SABC.