Longwe Twala killed Senzo Meyiwa
On October 26, 2014, the tragic murder of soccer star Senzo Meyiwa shocked South Africa and left many questions unanswered. Recently, during the ongoing murder trial, new allegations emerged, reigniting public interest in this high-profile case. Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, representing accused number one Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, made a startling claim: Longwe Twala, son of famed music producer Sello “Chicco” Twala, was the one who shot and killed Meyiwa that fateful night, according to Sunday World.
The claim was presented during the cross-examination of state witness and ballistic expert Lt-Col Christian Mangena at the Pretoria High Court. This cross-examination was significant as it followed a year after Mangena had initially provided his testimony. Mngomezulu asserted that Longwe fatally wounded Meyiwa using a .38 special revolver owned by his father, Chicco Twala.
The Night of the Incident
On the evening of Meyiwa’s death, he was at the home of Kelly Khumalo, a South African singer who was in a relationship with him at the time. Other individuals present included Khumalo’s sister Zandile, their mother Gladness, Zandile’s boyfriend Longwe, and Meyiwa’s close friends Tumelo Madlala and Mthokozisi Thwala. This gathering took a dark turn when Meyiwa was shot.
Firearms Evidence
The case hinges significantly on ballistic evidence. Lt-Col Mangena testified that he received two sealed evidence bags containing a 9mm parabellum semi-automatic pistol, along with other items, on November 14, 2014. Crucially, however, tests determined that the 9mm pistol in question was not the firearm used in Meyiwa’s murder.
Mngomezulu questioned Mangena about the ownership of the firearm and its legitimacy. Despite Mngomezulu’s assertions that the firearm belonged to Chicco Twala, Mangena maintained that he could not confirm the owner of the tested weapon. The advocate pressed further, expressing concerns about the weapon’s links to the crime, especially in light of Longwe’s presence at the scene.
The Allegation Against Longwe Twala
In a pointed line of questioning, Mngomezulu aimed to tie Longwe’s alleged actions to his father’s firearm ownership. He proposed a theory that Longwe fired the fatal shot, raising the question of how Chicco’s firearm came into play if he was not at the crime scene. Although Mngomezulu claimed to have verified that the firearm license belonged to Chicco, Mangena remained adamant that he was unaware of the ownership details.
The intricacies of the case reflect deep-rooted complexities in establishing culpability. Mngomezulu posited that the .38 special revolver was the weapon used, in contrast to the 9mm tested. This dichotomy underscores the challenges faced by the prosecution as they seek to present a coherent narrative that establishes guilt.
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