By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
There was much anticipation around whether Senzo Meyiwa’s close friend, who is a witness in his murder trial, will point out the intruder who was in the house when the soccer player was killed.
Tumelo Madlala is continuing with his testimony for a third day in the Pretoria High Court.
He was among the six people present when Meyiwa was shot and killed at the home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, in October 2014.
When Madlala took to the witness stand on Wednesday, he directed a cold stare at the accused, even shaking his head as he left the court.
On Wednesday, he told the court that one of the intruders was in the courtroom.
“Even if I was allowed to mention it yesterday, I was prepared to say it yesterday, hence I requested that break yesterday, my lord, because what annoyed me yesterday was to be in the same room as that person,” Madlala said.
But as he was about to point him out, the defence objected.
Lawyer for the first four accused, TT Thobane: “This question is vague. It is inadmissible and doesn’t add value.”
State advocate, George Baloyi, argued for the court to allow Madlala to identify the intruder.
Madlala has pointed out accused number two, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, as the man who got into a struggle with the soccer star on the night he was murdered back in 2014.
He insisted that Ntanzi was the intruder Meyiwa had pinned against the wall in the kitchen on that fateful night.
Advocate Baloyi asked Madlala to identify the man he believes walked into the Khumalo house and started demanding cell phones and money before Meyiwa was shot.
This after Madlala on Wednesday said he could identify the intruder in the dock among the five men standing trial, claiming that seeing him in court this week had made him feel “uncomfortable”.
“You said it was for the first time that you see them [the accused] in person; who is this person who made you feel uncomfortable in court?” Baloyi asked Madlala.
He said in response: “It’s the man with the blue T-shirt; he is the one who got into a struggle with Senzo.”
Madlala remained adamant that he pointed out the right accused in the dock as the intruder.
Ntanzi along with Sifisokuhle Ntuli, Muzikawukhulelwa Sthemba Sibiya, Mthobisi Prince Ncube and Mthokoziseni Ziphozonke Maphisa are facing a string of charges in connection with Meyiwa’s killing.
Court has also heard that Meyiwa was having a sexual relationship with Zandile Khumalo, the sister of Kelly, his girlfriend and the mother of his child.
A witness will testify that Kelly had brought Zandi to live with them, to guard Senzo while she was doing her music career activities. I put it to you that the same witness will come and testify that Senzo was complaining about the way Kelly was doing things, and having someone to guard him,” said Thobane.
Madlala said he did not know about this.
Thobane went on: “That witness will testify that at the end, Senzo ended up having a sexual relationship with Zandi as well. Kelly was being away for a long time.”
Madlala responded: “I cannot agree and I cannot disagree with that because I do know that Senzo loved women.”
Meyiwa was killed at Kelly’s home in Vosloorus on October 26, 2014.
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Video Courtesy of SABC.