Tumelo Madlala has told the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria how he went into the room where the former Orlando Pirates keeper, Senzo Meyiwa, had been kept after he was declared dead and asked him, “Senzo, is this what you called me to come to Joburg for?”
On Tuesday, Madlala told the court that Meyiwa had sent him money the day before to travel to Johannesburg the following day where he was picked up by Meyiwa, Kelly Khumalo, Zandi Khumalo and Mthokozisi Twala in Spruitview at about 5pm on the fateful Sunday.
He says when they arrived the hospital, Meyiwa was taken away on a stretcher while they remained in the waiting area of the hospital before a nurse returned to break the news that the late former Bafana Bafana keeper was no more.
After some time, the nurse returned with what looked like an Xray. Then she asked for an older person among us and Kelly’s mother went. She then came back trying and told us that #SenzoMeyiwa was no more.#SABCNews #SenzoMeyiwatrial
— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) September 14, 2022
He says it was at this point that he kissed Meyiwa on his forehead, while Kelly removed a watch from his hand.
Madlala: The nurse wanted us to go out. I kissed him on his forehead and then Kelly removed his watch.
They then took us back to the waiting room and by then it was already packed. Mandisa, Senzo’s wife, and players was already there. #SABCNews #SenzoMeyiwatrial #SenzoMeyiwa
— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) September 14, 2022
Madlala says at this point there were already a lot of people who had come out to the hospital, including Senzo’s wife, Mandisa as well as his teammates from Orlando Pirates.
An argument between Mandisa and Kelly ensued which became physical.
Madlala: Thereafter there was chaos at the entrance part of the hospital. I don’t know if Mandisa and Kelly were fighting, but there was even hair on the floor. #SABCNews #SenzoMeyiwatrial #SenzoMeyiwa
— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) September 14, 2022
Judge: Was it hair or a wig?
Madlala: I don’t know if it was Mandisa, but there was hair on the floor.
Translator: Was it hair?
I don’t know how to explain it. It was pulled. The braids.#SABCNews #SenzoMeyiwatrial #SenzoMeyiwa
— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) September 14, 2022
The amount of blood coming out of Senzo Meyiwa’s gunshot came into question in court on Wednesday.
At the beginning of proceedings, Madlala told the court that blood was not flowing from the wound when he found Meyiwa lying on his left side in the sitting room after he had come out of the bedroom in which he had run into for safety when the gun went off.
However, he later told the court that he was given a face cloth to use to put pressure on the gun wound as they were driving to the hospital because there was a lot of blood and the newspapers they had in the car had blood.
This is expected to be one of the focus points for the defense during cross-examination after statements read to the two previous witnesses, Thabo Mosia and Patrick Mthethwa, suggested there was water on the floor as neighbour Maggie Phiri cleaned the crime scene.
Mosia has conceded in court that during his visit to the scene he never examined the blood in the car and both witnesses had testified to seeing blood splatters on the floor in the house.
Madlala has told the court when he emerged from the bedroom to find everyone calling out Meyiwa’s name, there were already people, whom he thought were neighbours, on the scene and helped them carry the former Orlando Pirates keeper to the car.
The accused are sitting still in the dock, focused on the witness’ testimony, only occasionally mumbling among one another.
“Once we loaded him in the car Kelly was driving. I remember Zandi warning her against hitting speedbumps.”#SABCNews #SenzoMeyiwatrial #SenzoMeyiwa
— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) September 14, 2022
The trial continues.
