Crucial DNA evidence may have been overlooked at Senzo Meyiwa murder scene

The crime scene expert who collected evidence at the Vosloorus home where Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates footballer Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead has acknowledged he neglected to collect a crucial piece of evidence from the scene.

Sgt Thabo Mosia on Tuesday told the high court in Pretoria when he arrived at Kelly Khumalo’s mother house that night, he found a hat and walking stick on the kitchen floor. The hat, he was told, had belonged to one of two attackers who had entered the Khumalo yard.

The walking stick, which was a crutch, belonged to Meyiwa’s friend, Tumelo Dladla, who was present when the footballer was shot dead.

Maselela Teffo, representing four of the five men accused of murdering Meyiwa put to Mosia that Kelly’s sister, Zandi, had apparently used Dladla’s crutch to assault the armed suspect who entered their home and demanded cellphones and cash.

The attacker allegedly dropped his hat during the scuffle which ended in Meyiwa being shot.

“The reason for me to collect the hat at the scene is because of the information I received. No one knew about the owner of the hat,” Mosia said, suggesting he was hoping to lift DNA evidence from it.

Teffo questioned why Mosia didn’t take the crutch for DNA testing.

Mosea told the court he saw no reason to take it as evidence.

“I saw no reason to investigate that particular stick because it was confirmed to belong to one of the victims in the house,” Mosia replied.

Teffo asked whether it would have been relevant to collect the crutch as evidence as there the suspect’s DNA may have been on it.

Mosia said he could not answer.

When the question was put differently by judge Tshifhiwa Maumelathe, Mosia conceded the stick could have possibly contained the DNA of the suspect. 

Mosia collected swabs from the house for testing, including from door handles and tins of alcohol found at the scene.

In a twist, Teffo told the court the DNA on the hat turned out to belong to a female.

This contradicted evidence that had been given by those who were present when Meyiwa was shot who claimed a dreadlocked man had worn the hat.

Five men were arrested in connection with Meyiwa’s October 2014 murder.

The accused are Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli.

They have all been charged with premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of firearms without a licence and possession of ammunition.

They all pleaded not guilty last Friday.

The people who were present in the house at the time of the shooting were Khumalo, her mother Ntombi, sister Zandi, Zandi’s boyfriend Longwe Twala and Meyiwa’s friends Mthokozisi Twala and Tumelo Madlala. Kelly’s two children — one aged four years and the other, of whom Meyiwa was the father, seven months — were also present.

Mosia told the court when he responded to the scene four hours after the shooting, he had been briefed about what had transpired by a Brig Ndlovu.

“He told me there is a soccer star by the name of Senzo Meyiwa and he was shot and I need to come to the crime scene,” he said.

Mosia said he found Ndlovu at the scene with other officers. He was told the shooting had happened at around 8pm.

The version he was given was: “Two African males entered the house. One with a firearm entered the house while the other was left in the yard outside. The suspect who entered the house demanded cellphones and cash and then there was a scuffle. Kelly Khumalo ran from the sitting room to bedroom one and the suspect ran to push the door. The victim managed to lock herself inside. During the scuffle a shot went off and the suspect ran.”

When asked whether he conducted his own investigations into what happened, Mosia said he relied on the information received from Ndlovu.

“According to my understanding in relation to the crime scene, the house owner is Kelly Khumalo’s mother. I saw her [Khumalo’s mother]on that day,” said Mosia.

He said he did not interview her and explained interviewing witnesses was the detective’s duty.

The case was postponed to Thursday when Mosia was expected back to continue his cross-examination.

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