Court hears a drunk Longwe Twala killed Senzo Meyiwa

A drunk and angry Longwe Twala allegedly shot and killed former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa on 26 October 2014.

This was revealed by defence lawyer advocate Thulani Mngomezulu as he continued to cross-examine investigator Sergeant Batho Mogola at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Monday, 22 April.

LONGWE TWALA SHOT AND KILLED SENZO MEYIWA

Meyiwa’s close friends Mthokozisi Thwala and Tumelo Madlala, as well as Longwe Twala, singer Kelly Khumalo, her mother Ntombi Gladness Khumalo, her sister Zandie Khumalo and her two children Christian and Thingo, were present when the goalkeeper was shot.

On Monday, Mngomezulu put it to Mogola that music producer Sello Chicco Twala’s son was drunk when arrived at the Khumalo household and carried a firearm.

“According to my witnesses three shots were fired and three people were then injured. Senzo was shot dead, while Longwe Twala shot himself in the ankle and the last shot was fired on the floor. Subsequently, Zandi was injured,” he told said.

"When Longwe came to #KellyKhumalo's house he was drunk and had a firearm. Three shots were fired. Senzo was shot dead, Longwe shot himself in the ankle and the last shot was fired on the floor. As a result, Zandi got injured." – Adv. Mngomezulu#SenzoMeyiwaTrial pic.twitter.com/Tmci73dsFj

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) April 22, 2024

This was not the first time Longwe’s name was mentioned in the ongoing murder trial.

In July 2023, defence lawyer for accused 3, Advocate Charles Mnisi read a statement deposed by an unnamed witness who called Kelly on the day of the incident but there was a communication breakdown and ended up calling Madlala.

The unnamed witness said that Madlala informed him that Meyiwa was shot and wounded trying to separate a fight between Zandie and Longwe.

Furthermore, a statement by Meyiwa’s brother in law Mlungisi Hlophe has also been referred to in court.

In the statement, Hlophe said he called Madlala after the incident who told him that there was a fight inside Kelly’s home in Vosloorus between her sister Zandie and her then boyfriend Longwe Twala. Meyiwa reportedly tried to separate the two.

Furthermore, in November 2022, former defence lawyer for accused 1 – 4 Timothy Thobane read into the the record one of the statements deposed by Madlala which suggested that Longwe pulled the trigger.

“I was for the first time to see Longwe Twala and I did not tell anyone or the Meyiwa family that Senzo was killed by Longwe Twala because he did not have a firearm with him instead he ran away,” the statement read.

STATE WITNESS READY TO TESTIFY

Speaking on Radio 702 on Thursday, 14 March, Chicco said Longwe came out of rehab on Friday, 8 March, and is as healthy as an ox.

“Longwe just came back from rehab. He’s doing okay, and the police came to pick him up yesterday (Wednesday). They just wanted to interview him because they want him to be State witness,” he said.

When asked whether Longwe is willing to be a State witness, Chicco said his son is ready to talk about what happened.

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