Senzo Meyiwa trial: NPA mum on whether Longwe will testify
The NPA has said that they are not at liberty to confirm or deny whether Longwe Twala will be testifying in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it is not in a position to reveal whether or not Longwe Twala will be a state witness in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.
According to Sunday World, NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said that the agency cannot disclose the list of witnesses, as it has a responsibility to protect those on it.
CHICCO TWALA SAYS LONGWE HAS TURNED STATE WITNESS IN SENZO MEYIWA TRIAL
Mahanjana said this after Longwe’s father, Chicco Twala, told 702 on Thursday, 14 March, that his son has turned state witness.
“Longwe just came back from rehab on Friday. The police came to pick him up yesterday, they want him to be a state witness,” Twala said on the radio station.
Longwe is one of the seven people who were present at singer Kelly Khumalo’s family home in Vosloorus when Meyiwa was shot and killed in what was initially thought to be a botched robbery on 26 October 2014.
Also present that fateful night was Kelly, who was dating Meyiwa at the time; her sister, Zandie Khumalo, who was dating Longwe; their mother, Ntombi Khumalo; and two of Meyiwa’s friends, Mthokozisi Thwala and Tumelo Madlala.
Twala, who is a veteran producer and musician, said that his son is ready to testify.
Asked about what transpired the night the former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper was murdered, Twala said: “Honestly speaking, I wouldn’t want to dwell on that because I wasn’t there. Kelly, my son, and all the people who were in the house, can actually tell [us] what really happened.”
SOCIAL MEDIA THEORIES ‘AFFECTED HIM BADLY’
Many theories have come to the fore on social media since the incident, including allegations that Longwe pulled the trigger.
Twala said that his son relapsed after the social media backlash.
“You remember ‘Man’s Not Barry Roux’? He’s the one who started all of these things, he created that story. He actually popularised it and everyone bought into it, even Tefu [disbarred advocate in the Meyiwa trial] and all these lawyers.
“It affected him bady; that’s why he has been in and out of rehab. But at some point I had to give up. I have tried everything to help him, but I hope this time around he’ll be fine because he looks good.”
MEYIWA’S BROTHER CLAIMS THE FIREARM BELONGED TO LONGWE
According to the deceased’s brother, Sifiso Meyiwa – in an interview with eNCA in August 2023 – Longwe arrived at the Khumalo household with a gun because he could not get ahold of his then-girlfriend, Zandie.
“When he arrived he fought with Zandie and when they fought, there was a ruckus. He pulled out a firearm. The first bullet hit the floor and hit Zandie on the foot. Then there was a tussle for the gun and I don’t know how the trigger was pulled. That is what needs to be explained. But he [Longwe] wasn’t the only one holding the gun at that time, they were fighting over it,” he said.