Kelly Khumalo, a gospel singer from South Africa, has been accused of telling someone to kill her boyfriend, Senzo Meyiwa, who was a football star at the time. This information was given in court.
In 2014, Mr Meyiwa got shot while trying to keep Ms Khumalo safe from robbers with guns. In 2020, five people were taken into custody by the police.
Investigator Bongani Gininda said in court that Ms Khumalo planned a contract killing.
Ms Khumalo’s representative told the BBC that they believe in the legal system.
They said that Ms Khumalo couldn’t say anything but her lawyers are working on the problem.
The trial of the people accused of killing Mr Meyiwa, who used to be the national football team captain and a goalkeeper for Orlando Pirates, has captured the country’s attention.
Ms Khumalo was first thought to be involved after police papers were leaked in 2020 when the men were arrested.
At that time, her lawyer told the local media that the gospel singer didn’t know about the five people.
Mr Gininda said in court that one of the suspects admitted in a statement that Ms Khumalo told them to kill Mr Meyiwa.
The main investigator also said that Ms Khumalo was connected to the suspects through their cell phones.
Last year, Colonel Lambertus Steyn from the National Cold Case Investigation Unit said that Ms Khumalo had talked to one of the accused at least two times before Mr Meyiwa was killed.
Also, Ms Khumalo had a picture of money in a see-through bag on her phone. The same picture was also on one of the suspect’s phones.
The court is figuring out if the confession statements can be used as evidence. Two of the people accused say they were forced to confess.
Ms Khumalo and Mr Meyiwa had a baby.
But Mr Gininda said the two had a disagreement.
He said that Ms Khumalo really didn’t like him and wanted to make him go away.
He said that messages between Ms Khumalo and her sister from early 2013 showed that she wanted to get rid of him.
Tag: Senzo Meyiwa
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South African gospel singer charged of ordering death of her boyfriend
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Media kicked out of Senzo Meyiwa murder trial after State witness’ face shown on camera
Claims that a media house broadcasted footage of a State witness in the high-profile Senzo Meyiwa murder trial prompted the judge to clear the courtroom of all members of the media on Wednesday.
The witness, Tumelo Madlala, was a childhood friend of the slain Bafana Bafana captain.
He was one of the people who were inside the Vosloorus house where Meyiwa was shot dead eight years ago.
The court had earlier ruled his face should not be shown on camera or in photos while he is testifying in the murder trial.
On Wednesday afternoon, Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela refused to let proceedings continue while the person responsible for broadcasting Madlala’s face was still present.
“That person, whatever the effect and the extent of the footage, that person should leave this courtroom now. If we don’t know who it is, all media are going out now.”
An outraged Maumela suggested that media houses should “sort it out through the night” and return on Thursday to reveal who revealed Madlala’s face on camera.
“We are not to sacrifice time for trial because of people who want to go sensational at the expense of the lives of other people. We can’t do that.”
Initially, prosecutor advocate George Baloyi told the court they had a meeting with various media houses and camera people, then looked at the live feed and found the footage did not appear on the live feed.
“A possibility has been mentioned that perhaps it is some manipulation or photoshopping,” Baloyi told the court.
However, footage of Maumela leaving his bench showed Madlala’s face was in fact broadcast briefly.
The court was supposed to proceed with advocate Zandile Mshololo’s cross-examination of Madlala.
In September, Maumela reprimanded journalists and issued them with written warnings after they allegedly harassed Madlala at court, chasing him and asking him questions before proceedings.
News24 reported at the time that Madlala, who was with a woman, repeatedly gestured he did not want to speak to them.
Source: News24.com