Senzo Meyiwa Murder Trial: Longwe Twala is ready to testify
Chicco Twala has confirmed that his son, Longwe who was present during the shooting is ready to testify in the Senzo Meyiwa Murder Trial
Sello “Chicco” Twala says his son Longwe is out of rehab and is ready to testify in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.
Longwe is one of the seven people who were present at singer Kelly Khumalo’s home in Vosloorus when the former Bafana Bafana captain was shot in what was initially thought to be a botched robbery on 26 October 2014.
LONGWE TWALA READY TO TESTIFY IN SENZO MEYIWA MURDER TRIAL
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.
Speaking to 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 a 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.
MUSIC PRODUCER’S SON FINGERED IN THE MURDER OF A SOCCER STAR
Social media users have alleged that Longwe Twala is the one who shot Meyiwa and that Chicco is shielding him from going to jail. Many theories have surfaced, especially since the Netflix documentary Senzo: Murder of a Soccer Star debuted.
Longwe’s name has been mentioned several times in the ongoing 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.
‘MY SON AND KELLY KHUMALO KNOW WHO KILLED SENZO’
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika in 2022, Chicco said Longwe, Kelly Khumalo, and others who were present when Meyiwa was murdered “know the truth” about who killed the soccer star.
The producer said he wasn’t present like the other eight people, which included his son. He received a call from Kelly Khumalo after the murder and then only went to assist.
“My son, Kelly Khumalo, and the others present know the truth. Someone cannot be shot in their presence, and they are all silent about it. They know who killed Senzo; my son knows, Kelly knows, and everyone else who was there knows.
“I must be excluded. I was not there, and I am not part of it. I have said it before as well that I am not going to protect my son; if he is the murderer, trust me, I will come out in support of all the people who want the perpetrators to be jailed. I will never protect him.”