Senzo Meyiwa's friend, who was present on the night the soccer star was shot dead in Vosloorus in October 2014, on Tuesday described how Meyiwa had pinned one of his attackers to the wall before being shot dead.
Taking to the stand in the high court in Pretoria, Tumelo Madlala said he, Meyiwa, his girlfriend — songstress Kelly Khumalo — and others were sitting in the lounge when they saw the armed gunman walk into the house.
Others who were in the house at the time included Kelly's mother, Ntombi, Kelly's sister Zandi, her boyfriend at the time Longwe Twala, and another of Meyiwa’s friends Mthokozisi Twala. Kelly’s two young children, one of whom was fathered by the goalie, were also present.
“The person entering was carrying a firearm and had dreadlocks. He was wearing a jacket, I am not sure if it [was] caramel, brown. He was wearing a hat. It was a scotch hat and had black and white colours but small ones,” Madlala said.
He described the person as short with big eyes.
“When he entered, he didn't say a lot. He wanted phones and money from us,” Madlala said, adding that the person spoke in isiZulu.
Madlala said Longwe was the first to stand up and bolt out of the house, pushing the armed gunman as he ran out. After that, everyone got a chance to get up, including Kelly who ran into one of the bedrooms.
Madlala, who had a leg injury at the time, said when he stood up, he saw the second attacker in the kitchen. At this point, Senzo was holding his right arm on the bicep and pressing him against the wall.
“When I got there, I hit him with my fist,” Madlala said. “The one who entered first was being beaten by Kelly's mother and Zandi because Zandi was carrying my crutches.”
He explained to the court it was during this moment that he heard a gunshot.
“After the gun went off, because the kitchen is small, I felt like my ears were closing. That is when I ran to the bedroom.”
He said he though the gun shot came from the kitchen because it was loud.
Madlala said he tried to leave the house through the window but couldn’t as there were burglar bars.
When I came out [from the bedroom], I heard everyone calling out Senzo's name ... When I went straight to the [lounge] I found him lying next to where Kelly's mother [had earlier been] seated — between a couch and the TV stand. He was lying on the floor
— Tumelo Madlala
“I was pressed against the door because I was scared that the people would come to the bedroom. Then I heard that it was people who were inside the house talking.
“When I tried to open the door, I couldn't open it from the inside. I think Mthokozisi is the one who opened for me, using a spoon from the outside.
“When I came out [from the bedroom], I heard everyone calling out Senzo's name.
“When I went straight to the [lounge] I found him lying next to where Kelly's mother [had earlier been] seated — between a couch and the TV stand. He was lying on the floor,” Madlala said, pointing to a sketch plan of the house.
Madlala failed to compose himself at times and became emotional when he spoke about the shooting.
He is the first of all the house occupants to testify about what happened that night.
Five men are on trial for the soccer star's killing. All of them have pleaded not guilty.
Explaining how he had come to be in the Khumalo home that day, Madlala said Meyiwa had sent him money through his girlfriend and asked him to come to Johannesburg from Durban.
He told the court that Meyiwa had instructed him to get off the taxi at Spruitview where he was fetched by Meyiwa, Kelly, her sister Zandi and Mthokozisi.
Madlala said they first bought liquor before going to Kelly's mother's house. It was here that he was introduced to a woman he referred to as MaKhumao — Kelly's mother.
“When we were drinking, food was being prepared. We were watching football. After a while, a man arrived at the house and as time went on, Senzo told me the gentleman was Longwe Thwala. We didn't talk much with him because he didn't say much, he was speaking to Zandi.”
Explaining and pointing out where everyone was sitting in the sketch plan, Madlala said Kelly was sitting next to Senzo even though she kept moving.
“At the far right, opposite Kelly Khumalo's mother, that is where I was seated. Next to me it was Mthokozisi and next to him it was Senzo.”
He said Senzo was seated facing Longwe.
Madlala told the court about a conversation he had had with Meyiwa that day while the two of them were in the kitchen. He said Meyiwa told him he was going to buy his family everything when he went to Durban. He also said he planned to use R10,000 to book himself and Kelly into a hotel.
During the course of the evening, Meyiwa kept receiving calls but Madlala said he didn't know who Meyiwa was talking to.
Madlala said though he does not remember at which point, there was a time when Kelly and Meyiwa left the house to go to a local shop but later returned.
The matter returns to court on Wednesday.
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