Senzo Meyiwa trial: How Longwe Twala was excluded as murder suspect

The lead investigator, Brigadier Bongani Gininda, has provided crucial testimony explaining why Longwe Twala was excluded as murder suspect in the 2014 murder of the Bafana Bafana captain.

Gininda took the stand at the Pretoria High Court on Thursday, offering insights into how he ruled out Longwe Twala and focused instead on the theory that intruders were responsible for Senzo Meyiwa’s death.

Meyiwa was shot and killed in what initially appeared to be a botched robbery while visiting the home of his then-girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo, in Vosloorus. The case has gripped South Africa for nearly a decade, with various theories circulating about the true nature of the crime. The State believes that Meyiwa’s murder was a hit, allegedly ordered by Khumalo, while five men are currently on trial for the crime.

Gininda testified that when he took over the case in November 2018, one of the prominent theories circulating was that the person responsible for Senzo Meyiwa’s death was someone who was inside the house at the time. This theory pointed to Longwe Twala, son of music producer Chicco Twala, who was present at the scene. However, Gininda said that after thoroughly investigating the case, he became convinced that the shooter was an intruder and not anyone who had been inside the house.

“When I received the docket, I was fully aware of the theory suggesting that someone in the house could have been responsible for Senzo Meyiwa’s death. In fact, at one point, I too believed this,” Gininda explained. However, his initial belief was challenged as he began to dig deeper into the evidence.

One of the key pieces of evidence that swayed Gininda’s thinking was the analysis of cellphone records. According to Gininda, the records showed that Kelly Khumalo’s phone, which was allegedly stolen during the robbery, did not follow the same path as the group of people who had been inside the house. Instead, while the others rushed to the hospital after the shooting, Khumalo’s phone moved in a different direction.

“After the shooting, the people in the house went to the hospital. However, the phone that was reportedly stolen did not follow the same route and instead went in the opposite direction,” said Gininda. “I couldn’t find any explanation for this movement, other than that the phone was taken by the intruder. Everyone else’s location could be confirmed, either at the scene or at the hospital.”

This analysis led Gininda to conclude that the individuals present at the scene, including Twala, were not directly involved in Meyiwa’s murder. Instead, it pointed to an intruder who had taken the phone during the robbery.

In addition to the cellphone evidence, Gininda also cited statements from neighbors who claimed they saw intruders fleeing from Khumalo’s house shortly after the shooting. These eyewitness accounts matched the descriptions provided by people inside the house, further supporting the theory that Meyiwa was killed by outsiders.

“The neighbors reported seeing unknown individuals leaving the house in a hurry, and their descriptions aligned with what the witnesses inside the house had told me,” said Gininda.

The case, which has been riddled with delays and complications, has raised numerous questions about the involvement of high-profile figures like Kelly Khumalo and Longwe Twala. While some continue to speculate that there may have been a cover-up or involvement from within the group of friends and family present, Gininda’s testimony has shifted the focus back onto the intruders as the likely culprits.

The trial, which has dragged on for years, is expected to bring more revelations as witnesses continue to take the stand. Meyiwa’s family and fans remain eager for justice, and the country continues to watch as the truth about the football star’s tragic death unfolds in court.

For now, the five men accused of carrying out the murder stand trial, and Gininda’s testimony strengthens the State’s case that Senzo Meyiwa was, in fact, the victim of a robbery gone wrong, orchestrated by external assailants rather than by anyone who was close to him at the time.

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