Top cop is ‘a liar sowing confusion’
STATE witness Tumelo Madlala, Senzo Meyiwa’s best friend, told the court that top cop Colonel Joyce Buthelezi, who was also handling the slain footballer’s case, fabricated lies and that she was responsible for the confusion surrounding the two dockets in the case.
“She did a lot of things that were not right, assaulting people and lying ... I respected her and I even called her mum, not knowing that she was doing her own thing on the side. That woman did a lot. We now have two dockets because of Buthelezi and her lies. I won’t hide it, that person is a liar,” Madlala said.
Docket 375, which was under investigation by Buthelezi and Warrant Officer Meshack Makhubo, was filed in 2019. It called for the people in the house to be charged.
The second docket contains a recommendation by the State to have Kelly Khumalo, Chicco Twala’s son Longwe, Kelly’s mother Gladness Khumalo, Kelly’s sister Zandi Khumalo, Senzo’s childhood friend Tumelo Madlala, Mthokozisi Thwala and Maggie Phiri – who is said to have cleaned the crime scene before the police officers arrived – charged.
Madlala revealed the information yesterday during cross-examination by advocate Zandile Mshololo, who is representing Sifokuhle Ntuli, the fifth accused in the Meyiwa murder trial.
Picking up where Mshololo left off, State prosecutor advocate George Baloyi asked Madlala about a statement he had made to a member of the investigating team.
“I forgot something; this same Buthelezi told me she would tell this investigating officer to shoot me because I didn’t want to talk,” Madlala replied. He added that the statements were made under Buthelezi’s direction.
The second docket Madlala was referring to, was opened five years after Meyiwa’s murder on October 26, 2014.
Five men, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifokuhle Ntuli, are facing murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, among other charges. All five accused have pleaded not guilty.