Latest news with #Meyiwa
IOL News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Kelly Khumalo's tight concert security raises eyebrows amid allegations by former Meyiwa trial advocate
Amid ongoing allegations in the Senzo Meyiwa case, Kelly Khumalo's heightened security at Dundee July raises eyebrows and concerns among fans. Image: Instagram Singer Kelly Khumalo's security beef-up leaves netizens wondering what's happening. The songstress was recently seen performing at the Dundee July event in KwaZulu-Natal, where her bodyguard was keeping a close eye on her. Khumalo has never shied away from controversy, including her connection to the unclear death of former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, and her self-proclaimed role as a healer. Recently, the songstress, known for her powerful vocals and captivating stage presence, was seen performing one of her gospel hits, 'Esphambanweni', with a male figure dressed in all black keeping a close eye on her. An unseen attendee threw a can of alcohol at her while she was performing, and her bodyguard reacted swiftly by kicking the can off stage before Khumalo could step on it. While some fans assumed the added security measure was due to concerns about her safety after new claims made by Advocate Malesela Teffo, a former trial defence advocate for the Meyiwa murder case. Khumalo's history with controversy, including her connection to the tragic death of former Meyiwa, has kept her in the limelight for quite some years. This incident has also had a lasting impact on her career. The circumstances surrounding Meyiwa's death, which occurred at Khumalo's Vosloorus home with the singer present, led to widespread speculation and many people questioning her involvement. Additionally, the security beef-up comes after Teffo went on a podcast tour to reveal some eyebrow-raising details about Khumalo's involvement in Meyiwa's death. He was recently a guest on Mac G's Podcast and Chill show, as well as the Moya podcast, where he touched on her alleged involvement in the murder. Teffo made shocking claims about Khumalo on the Podcast and Chill show, alleging that the singer shot and killed Meyiwa, with whom she also shares a child. Meyiwa was murdered at Khumalo's home in 2014, in an incident initially thought to be a botched robbery. However, Teffo disputed this narrative during a podcast interview. 'If they say it was a robbery gone wrong, how can that be when the people coming to rob you have an intention? If they shoot, you can't say it was culpable homicide. If they shoot to kill, the result can't be culpable murder; it would be murder,' he said. Khumalo has been linked to Meyiwa's murder case multiple times, and Advocate Teffo's recent allegations on Podcast and Chill have reignited speculation around her involvement. Since then, she has come out to defend herself multiple times, debunking the allegations as baseless. The singer came out once again to address Tefo in response to all the claims he made about her during his podcast tour revelations. Khumalo posted a video on Instagram, citing that she's not intimidated by anyone and challenged those who think she's guilty to take action against her or 'back off'. The singer captioned the video: 'From being dragged in that dirty court to sketchy podcasts? You never cease to amaze me. It's quite simple, though. If you strongly believe that I am capable of what you are accusing me of, come and get me and stop playing games! Till then, back off.'
TimesLIVE
26-06-2025
- TimesLIVE
Senzo Meyiwa trial focuses on alleged intruder's gold tooth
The lead investigator in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Brig Bongani Gininda, has told the Pretoria high court that no medical records could be found confirming whether one of the accused, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, had a gold tooth. Gininda testified that he had made attempts during the investigation to access Mncube's medical records from the correctional facility to establish whether he had a gold tooth when he was admitted. However, the records were never located. He said that it came to his attention that gold teeth are not always surgically fitted and can also be worn as removable grills. This is after a picture depicting Mncube was beamed in court and Gininda described that in the picture Mncube appears to be smiling with a shiny object on his upper teeth resembling gold. Some of the occupants in the house had said one of the intruders in the Vosloorus home when Meyiwa was murdered had a gold tooth. Meyiwa was with his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo at her mother's house in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, and they were relaxing over lunch and watching a soccer match with Kelly's sister Zandile, Zandile's then-boyfriend Twala, and two of Meyiwa's friends who were visiting from KwaZulu-Natal. The occupants of the house told police that two robbers entered, demanding cash and cellphones, before Meyiwa was shot in a scuffle with one of the intruders. Mncube, Bongani Ntanzi, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Ntuli are on trial for Meyiwa's murder in October 2014. They face charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition. On Thursday, Gininda also told the court that Twala was not a person of interest in the murder of the soccer star. This as advocate Charles Mnisi, representing Sibiya and Mncube, asked about the picture of bag of money found on Mncube, Twala and Kelly Khumalo's phones. He had testified that a similar picture depicting a bag of money was found on their phones. 'You cannot focus on a person as a person of interest solely because of one bag or one piece of evidence. When it comes to Miss Kelly Khumalo, and I've testified about this, there are number of things that came up that seem to point to her as being the trigger point, and that is why I then said she was then viewed, in so far as the investigation is concerned, as a person of interest and subsequent application for the J50.' Gininda previously testified that it had come up that Twala might have been the shooter, but he had to look at certain facts in the docket that led him to his conclusion that there were intruders.
The Citizen
25-06-2025
- The Citizen
‘He seems to be walking fine': Video contradicts Longwe Twala injury claim in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial
The state led new evidence in court on Wednesday. Longwe Twala is seen leaving the Randburg Magistrate's Court after his appearance on 25 September 2024. Picture: Gallo Images/Luba Lesolle The lead investigator in the Senzo Meyiwa murder case has refuted claims implicating Longwe Twala, son of prominent music producer Sello 'Chicco' Twala, in the killing of the former Bafana Bafana captain. Brigadier Bongani Gininda returned to the witness stand at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday to testify on new evidence. New evidence in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial During the proceedings, state prosecutor George Baloyi introduced a two-minute video clip sourced from broadcaster eNCA. The footage was brought in response to an earlier claim made by the late defence lawyer Thulani Mngomezulu during his cross-examination of Gininda. Mngomezulu had alleged that Longwe killed Meyiwa using a .38 Special revolver and accidentally shot himself in the foot in the process. According to Mngomezulu, Longwe later sought medical treatment for a septic wound, with the bullet purportedly removed at Rand Hospital. Longwe was among the individuals present at singer Kelly Khumalo's family home in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, on 26 October 2014, when the former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper was fatally shot. ALSO READ: Tensions rise again in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial over 'hired gun' remark, evidence tampering claims Describing the video footage, Gininda testified that it showed Longwe walking towards Meyiwa's BMW X6, which was parked at the Khumalo residence. 'Are you able to comment regarding the movement or the gait of the person that you've identified as Mr Longwe Twala?' Baloyi asked. 'Well, yes, he seems to be walking fine, contrary to what was put to me that… he was limping and there was a shooting on the ankle.' 'So that's what I see on the footage; it's not an indication of someone who sustained an injury, particularly a bullet wound injury on the ankle,' Gininda responded. Watch the trial below: The police officer further testified that the footage was believed to have been taken the day after Meyiwa's murder, according to state records. 'Although there's no date there, if one follows the sequence of the events, and my understanding of the request that was put to eNCA from the state's side was that it was a request for the video or activities of the 27th of October 2014. 'That is the following day subsequent to the incident took place, the murder of the deceased.' 'Based on that, I will put then the date of the 27th of October 2014 during the day because one can see that was during the day and the incident would have taken place at night, according to the docket.' Five men charged Five men – Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Ntuli – are on trial for Meyiwa's murder. The accused have been charged with murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of ammunition. All five men have pleaded not guilty. According to Sibiya and Ntanzi's confession statements, Khumalo ordered the hit on Meyiwa. NOW READ: Gold tooth mystery: Disputed photos take centre stage in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial
The Herald
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Judge asked to retract generalised race-based remarks
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has been urged to withdraw his 'unfortunate' remarks directed at a defence lawyer. The chairperson of the parliamentary justice portfolio committee Xola Nqola said the comments border on racism. 'We want to strongly condemn the totally unacceptable utterances. The incompetence or behaviour of legal practitioners has nothing to do with race, as he has alluded to in court. The remarks are extremely unfortunately and a gross generalisation.' The presiding judge in the long-running trial of five men accused of the murder of footballer Senzo Meyiwa was referring to the message, sent to his registrar, indicating the absence of the legal representative of two of the accused in court on Monday. Advocate Charles Mnisi said he would be running the Comrades Marathon on Sunday and would only drive back to Gauteng the next day. Mokgoatlheng then said: 'This is South Africa run by blacks. I don't think a white advocate would have had the gall to ask me that.' Nqola said: 'While we understand the frustration of the judge, families and accused with the duration of the trial, it is totally unacceptable to imply black legal professionals act unprofessionally compared to their white counterparts. We urge him to refrain from such gross generalisations. Furthermore, we demand judge Mokgoatlheng withdraws his comments and apologises to the nation.' A year ago the judge apologised for another outburst. Defence lawyer Thulani Mngomezulu had failed to pitch at the high court in Pretoria court on that day and also failed to formally communicate with the court about his absence. This prompted Mokgoatlheng's reaction: 'Is this how black lawyers behave, some of them?' Mokgoatlheng soon tendered an apology, saying: 'On reflection and after some thought, I admit my comments could be interpreted as intemperate, ill-advised, ill-considered or offensive, and if that is the perception, then I want to state I unreservedly withdraw the comments.' TimesLIVE
The Citizen
04-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Meyiwa trial becomes a courtroom spectacle without justice
The Senzo Meyiwa trial has turned into a legal performance filled with theatrics, questionable rulings and conflict of interest. General view during the unveiling of Senzo Meyiwa's tombstone at Chesterville Cemetery on 10 November 2020 in Durban. Picture: Gallo Images/Darren Stewart The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial continues to teeter between comedy and tragedy at the High Court in Pretoria. National icon Meyiwa was murdered in cold blood in front of a number of witnesses in 2014. The resultant legal circus being screened on national television lately at the moment is leaving viewers with many lingering unanswered questions. The spectacle that started with the initial presiding officer, Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela, seems to have found its way under the current presiding officer, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng. If ever there was a case where the interests of justice, logic, common sense and Solomonic wisdom yearned – if not screamed – for the trial to start afresh (de novo) before a new judge, and for the five accused persons to be each represented by separate counsel, it is the Meyiwa murder trial. There is a lot that has been said and done in that courtroom in the full glare of news television cameras that dictate that this trial starts afresh before another judge. ALSO READ: 'No proper investigation was done': Defence frustrated over missing evidence in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial So far, the trial has not showcased the machinations of our justice system in action in a favourable light. One has witnessed theatrics and conduct unbecoming from the Bench and the Bar itself. Some rulings from the Bench and unsalutary comments have been made. Not all within the Bench have the necessary acumen, temperament, patience, diligence, forensic skills and tact to restrain themselves from vying for attention to win the Oscar performance for the best actor of the show. It is not the duty of the Bench to upstage any of the legal representatives appearing before it. After all, legal representatives are creatures of instructions, no matter how ridiculous the legal mandate seems to the listening spectators. The palpable bias from the Bench leaning towards the prosecution has emboldened some counsel to even threaten to quit, while the state keeps on making objections on issues where the court should exercise latitude for cross-examination. Potential conflict of interest, in itself, is sufficient for a discerning court to insist on separate defence representation. Here in this case you have two of the accused persons having made some self-incriminating admissions and confessions implicating their co-accused person. ALSO READ: Senzo Meyiwa murder trial postponed as defence seeks more evidence from state Is that not in itself real prejudice and well-grounded conflict of interest? The problem in this case is that the Bench and the Bar seem to be enjoying the news television cameras too much, at the detrimental expense of the fairness of the trial to both the prosecution and defence. Unfortunately, the Meyiwa murder trial will be remembered for the many wrong things that went down instead of solving one of the most unfortunate tragedies that befell a former goalkeeper and captain of our national team. To those versed in superstition and conjecture, it is as if the trial itself is jinxed. I rest my case.
