A sworn statement by the lead investigator in the Senzo Meyiwa trial, has implicated his then girlfriend, mother of his child and singer Kelly Khumalo, as the person who ordered his killing.
These startling allegations were revealed by Brigadier Bongani Gininda when he deposed statement at the Pretoria High Court during a trial within-a-trial of five men accused with Meyiwa’s murder.
According to the statement, which was commissioned in 2020, two of the accused in the trial, Muzi Sibiya and Bongani Ntanzi identified Khumalo as the mastermind behind his assassination.
Gininda said the two were arrested after being linked with circumstantial and witness accounts to the murder of Meyiwa, and when there was overwhelming evidence against them, that is when they made the shocking confessions separately.
The sworn statement reveals that Sibiya was the first accused to confess, and detailed how the hit on Meyiwa’s life was planned and the subsequent attack on the Khumalo house in Vosloorus.
“The accused was further linked with circumstantial evidence, wherein he minutes after the incident, he made the disclosures and remarks to people in Vosloorus regarding Meyiwa’s killing, even before it was reported by the media,” said Gininda.
He revealed that investigation which resulted in evidence under oath, revealed that Meyiwa was murdered as contractual assassinations or hit, rather than a robbery gone wrong.
Gininda said the planning of the offence and gathering after the incident, took place at the Vosloorus hostel, and was attended by the two accused and their accomplices, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifiso Ntuli.
Gininda said Ntanzi made a confession to the police and later to a Magistrate in Boksburg in the presence of his attorney in June 2020
“Through the confession it appears that this suspect is the one that was described as tall slender built, that came to the house.
He also implicates miss Kelly Khumalo as the person who gave the order to kill Senzo Meyiwa,” read the statement.
Gininda revealed that cell phone downloads from Maphisa’s cell phone showed the murder weapon used, and a photo containing the exact bag of money, similar to the one found on Khumalo.
He added that the accused is also linked by cell phone analysis by means of a cell phone links to Khumalo.
It also emerged that Khumalo failed to disclose four cell phone numbers which were later discovered by cell phone analysts.
Gininda is adamant that cell phone linkages connected Khumalo with accuse 3 and 5.
“It was further discovered through cell phone analysts that her cell phone memory album has the same photo of a see-through bag containing cash notes and in the exact position or location of Mncube.
There is no reasonable explanation as to why Khumalo will be in contact telephonically with a hitman or killers of her boyfriend and share the same picture of a bag full of money,” explained Gininda.
It also emerged through communication records between Kelly and her sister, Zandile, that she wanted to get rid of Meyiwa as early as 2013.
“She wanted to get rid of the deceased as she puts it.
It is apparently clear that she hated him and wanted to get rid of him.
She further state that she regrets not succeeding to get rid of him before.
Taking into account all these facts, an inference can be drawn that she meant killing him,” added Gininda.
The statement further alleges that Khumalo’s cell phone records show that after the incident, she called a number of people, but however did not call for emergency services.
It also said Khumalo went to a witchdoctor for cleansing, as was done by the accused after Meyiwa’s murder.
“Evidence through sworn corroborating evidence established a close link between the offenders and the offences of murder, robbery and aggravating circumstances, possession of an unlicensed firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition and conspiracy to commit murder.
Khumalo seems to be the trigger point of this murder,” concluded Gininda.
The trial continues.
