Latest on Senzo Meyiwa murder suspect who shot girlfriend for exposing him

One of the suspects in the murder case of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa is facing two attempted murder charges.

Muzikawukhalelwa Sibiya, who was under heavy police guard, made a brief appearance at the Vosloorus Magistrate’s Court this week.

Last month, Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Ziphozonke Maphisa and Fisokuhle Nkani Ntuli were charged for the murder of Meyiwa after six years.
The football star was gunned down on October 26, 2014 at Kelly Khumalo’s mother’s house in Vosloorus.

During the court appearance on Monday, Sibiya, 34, who was represented by his lawyer kept his eyes on the ground and sheepishly looked at the court gallery.

Sibiya is accused of allegedly shooting Ntombenhle Ndaba. He allegedly shot Ndaba 25 times in a fit of rage in 2015 at Basuthwini Hostel. One of the bullets hit her in the chest and narrowly missed her heart. Insiders said a group of girls had come to the hostel for a visit. Sibiya had just bought a brand new cellphone.

When he realised it had gone missing he questioned the people who were in the house and allegedly sprayed bullets into Ndaba. She was rushed to hospital where she was treated.

During the commotion his cellphone was discovered.

According to sources a doctor who treated Ndaba said: “It was a miracle that she survived”.

The doctor was in disbelief. He said he doesn’t know how she survived that shooting incident because “the bullet hit her in the chest and missed her heart by inches.”

Shortly after the shooting incident the Sibiyas negotiated with Ndaba’s family. It was agreed that she would be compensated if they did not open a case. After the money was collected, R5000 was handed over to Ndaba’s uncle.

Sibiya is also facing another attempted murder charge for allegedly shooting Mfanelo Mbatha. It was not immediately clear why Mbatha had been shot at. Again after Mbatha was shot, Sibiya’s family compensated his family with R5000. The case has been postponed to December 1 for further investigation.

In another incident Sibiya allegedly shot a girlfriend in December 2014 after she threatened to blow the whistle on him about Meyiwa’s murder. Sibiya had allegedly confided in her about his alleged involvement in Meyiwa’s murder. Shortly after the incident the families had a meeting. It was agreed the Mbatha family would be compensated.

“We are still investigating this matter. We are still trying to find out what happened to this case,” a source said.

Sibiya, who had been sought by police since last year for a charge of drug dealing, was arrested in Tembisa on May 30, this year. Sibiya was arrested in 2018 for drug dealing and was granted bail.

He failed to appear in court on the next court date.

His bail was subsequently cancelled and a warrant of arrest was issued against him.

Police had also been looking for Sibiya in connection with the murder of Meyiwa.

Sibiya who had been living in a Basuthwini hostel moved out following three separate shooting incidents.

-SundayIndipendent

He went to live with his uncle at Vusumuzi Section in Tembisa.

On October 26 Sibiya was formally charged with the murder of Meyiwa.

Last month, Sibiya, Ntanzi, Mncube, Maphisa and Ntuli appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Witness who saw the people that killed Senzo Meyiwa died of poisoning

A key witness in the murder case of Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, whose testimony contributed to the arrest of five suspects, has died of suspected poisoning.

Thabang Makeleni, who in 2014 was a student living in Vosloorus, not far from singer Kelly Khumalo’s mother’s home, was poisoned late last year, a few months after he made a deposition to new investigators in which he linked the five suspects, currently charged for the murder of Meyiwa, to the scene.

A local publication has learnt that Makeleni told the police that five people had showed up at Khumalo’s mother’s house the night Meyiwa was shot and killed.

Those who were in the house at the time of Meyiwa’s killing, according to the police were Kelly Khumalo, her mother Ntombifuthi Khumalo, and sister Zandi, Chicco Twala’s son Longwe and Senzo’s cousin.

Those privy to his affidavit indicate that the witness, who hails from a rural village in Free State, told the police that two people had entered the house, but said that other people were in the yard, one at the gate and two others waiting in cars, a VW Polo and an Audi.

National police spokesperson Vish Naidoo confirmed that a witness in the Meyiwa case died of poisoning. He said the matter was being investigated by the Gauteng provincial police.

Naidoo said: “The person who was allegedly killed by poisoning was one of a few people interviewed in connection with the Senzo Meyiwa murder investigation. I am not sure how you came to the conclusion that the arrests of the five suspects resulted from his ‘statement’? Nevertheless, there has been no evidence this far suggesting that his death is in any way related to the Senzo Meyiwa murder investigation. That murder case is being dealt with by Gauteng province.”

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Sipho Ngwema also confirmed the incident but shied away from responding to questions about whether the student had been in witness protection.

Makeleni died while visiting his girlfriend. Those close to him revealed that he was found dead in another room in the house, while his girlfriend slept in a different room. “This on its own raises questions. How do you visit your girlfriend and you sleep in different rooms. Something is fishy,” said one of the sources.

Sunday World understands that Makeleni’s girlfriend was questioned by the police in relation to his death.

KZN traditional healer who gave Senzo Meyiwa killers muthi speaks out as he fears for his life

A Kwazul-Natal traditonal healer who gave three Senzo Meyiwa hitmen muthi, before and after murder now fears for his life.

The Inyanga who was interviewed by the police earlier this said he told them everything he knew.

“I was misled. They told me they needed muthi to protect their business and make them courageous”.
“They didn’t tell me they needed muthi to give them courage to kill Senzo Meyiwa”.

Speaking to City Press, He said that in 2014, Three men came to his house and asked for muthi saying they were feuding with a business rival.

He gave them Intelezi to use when bathing and as paid R5000 for his services.

Intelezi is used to protect warriors in battle and to protect people from gunshots.

After a few days, they came back and told him they wanted to be cleansed as they had killed someone.

He says he only realised that the men murdered Senzo Meyiwa after he found one of the men who had consulted with him in 2014 at the police station when he was taken in for questioning.

So far 5 suspects were arrested in connection to Senzo Meyiwa’s murder, with one of them a mine worker confessing that he is the one who pulled the trigger.

The suspect is reported to have said that it was not a robbery gone wrong, but it was a hit and that Senzo Meyiwa owed someone money and that person ordered the hit.

However his family rubbished that theory, with his brother saying.

“I can tell you now that this is another diversion from the real killers of my brother. And as the family, no one has come to us with these revelations and these people called hitmen are faceless.

“Senzo belonged to the nation. We only produced him and handed over to the nation. So, I’m pretty sure we are not the only ones who are feeling the pain of not seeing justice being served,”

Well-wishers donate tombstones for Senzo Meyiwa and his father Sam Meyiwa

The wheels of justice are turning painfully slowly, but Safa has at least come through for the Meyiwas.

A tombstone was erected on Tuesday for Sam Meyiwa, late father of former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa.

Senzo’s tombstone was erected last month.

Kwenza Ngwenya, the KZN Safa chairman, said both tombstones were donated by the association.

The cost of Senzo’s tombstone was about R80 000 and his father’s about R25 000.

“Unforeseen circumstances and Covid-19 caused delays, but it was always our intention to place them.”

He said Safa also donated two cows.

“We decided on two cows because he was a twin. We donated a goat to appease the ancestors.

“On Saturday, there will be a ceremony at Senzo’s home in Umlazi, KZN, to bring Senzo’s spirit home.

“On Tuesday, there’ll be an unveiling ceremony for Senzo and the family might decide to also unveil Sam’s.

“The unveiling ceremony will be held at the Durban City Hall with the Bafana Bafana squad in attendance.

“The team will be playing two games in Durban at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on 10 and 13 November.”

Kwenza said the service would start at 10am and move to the Heroes Acre Cemetery.

Sifiso, a family member, said: “We’re happy the tombstones have been erected. The only outstanding thing is justice.”

He said they were unhappy about the people who appeared in court.

“It would be interesting to see how they are linked to this case. We trust that AfriForum will finally get access to the docket and uncover the truth.”

Senzo was killed in 2014 at his then girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s home.

The eThekwini Municipality had promised to buy and erect his tombstone but failed.

Latest on Senzo Meyiwa case – 2 people he loved linked to murder – Text messages leaked

Police are closing in on the alleged mastermind behind Senzo Meyiwa’s murder after stumbling upon a trail of social media messages that appear to link his alleged killers to at least two people close to him.

This week’s court appearance of five suspects in connection with the Bafana Bafana captain’s murder follows a breakthrough by a new team of detectives, led by Col Bongani Gininda, who were appointed in January by national police commissioner Lt-Gen Khehla Sitole.

The prosecution told the Boksburg magistrate’s court that Meyiwa was killed in a botched robbery, but sources told the Sunday Times this week that they believe it was a contract killing.
At the time of his October 2014 murder, the star goalkeeper was estranged from his wife, Mandisa, and involved in a relationship with Afropop star Kelly Khumalo.

The Sunday Times understands that other information, obtained from what sources would only say were social media messages that police unearthed during the questioning of two suspects, suggests that:

– Communication between the five accused, the middlemen and the mastermind allegedly began nearly four months before Meyiwa’s murder and continued two weeks after the killing;

– The five men who appeared in court this week are alleged members of a notorious taxi hit squad operating in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal;

– The five allegedly fell out with each other over payment for Meyiwa’s murder; and

– The gun used to kill Meyiwa has been linked to five other murders, which occurred as far back as 2011.

Meyiwa’s uncle, Siyabonga Meyiwa, said the family had “recently learnt of the messages” from the police.

“We have been made aware of the communications which took place between the accused and the alleged mastermind and others … There is good evidence which links people. It shows people talking to each other,” he said.

The Sunday Times has further learnt that since the appointment of the new investigation team, a vast amount of information has been unearthed.

Since February, the detectives have scoured the social media data with the help of cyber and telecommunication experts.

They have also been trawling through documents, including the investigation diaries of previous investigators, ballistics reports, witness statements, reports on DNA from a dreadlock ripped from the gunman’s head and clothing left at the scene, as well as information that Meyiwa’s father, Sam, gave the former investigators five years ago.

Sitole, who in 2018 established the South African Police Service’s Cold Case Unit — the unit that is now investigating the killing — is personally overseeing the probe after it ground to a halt.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) sources also told the Sunday Times that days before the new detectives were appointed, national prosecutions head Shamila Batohi removed the original prosecutors, taking it from South Gauteng prosecutions chief Andrew Chauke and handing it to acting North Gauteng prosecutions boss George Baloyi.

The transfers followed almost six years of bungling, including the alleged failure by police to properly follow up tip-offs about the identities of two of the five accused.

Also apparently ignored was information about the murder of a sixth suspect in

KwaNongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2016.

On Tuesday, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Ntuli appeared in the dock charged with murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and various firearms-related charges.

All of the men were in prison when they were charged and will appear in court again on November 27.

Mncube, arrested in February 2015 for the murder of Alexandra taxi boss Reggie Mohlala, who he was convicted of killing with the same 9mm pistol allegedly used to kill Meyiwa, is serving a 30-year sentence for taxi industry-related murders in Ekurhuleni and KwaZulu-Natal, said an NPA source.

Ntanzi and Maphisa were in Gauteng’s Leeuwkop prison for taxi industry murders, and Ntuli is in prison awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in political killings.

Refusing to stand in the dock on Tuesday, Maphisa told the court: “The people who are supposed to be appearing before court are not here because they have money. It means the court will have to direct questions to me because I do not have money for legal representation.”

A police source with knowledge of the case said it was a 2015 tip-off from Sam

Meyiwa, who died in July last year, that led police to their first arrest — that of Sibiya.

Sibiya was first arrested on two attempted murder charges in March 2019 and skipped bail before he was re-arrested in Tembisa this year. Information from Sibiya then led to Ntanzi, a former miner in Rustenburg. The Sunday Times understands that Ntanzi and Sibiya implicated the others.

Police later discovered the pistol allegedly used to kill Meyiwa at the Cleveland police station in Johannesburg.

“Police, through ballistics, discovered it was used to kill Alexandra taxi boss Reggie Mohlala in January 2015, three months after

Meyiwa was shot with it,” said a source close to the investigation.

“It was meant to have been destroyed in 2017 after the Mohlala murder trial. Thank God it wasn’t, otherwise the murder weapon would never have been found,” said the source.

He added that during the questioning of

Sibiya and Ntanzi, detectives stumbled upon the social media communications.

“The information is between the person suspected to be the mastermind … and people who arranged the izinkabi [taxi hitmen], who are allegedly the five accused,” said the source.

“This data is a major breakthrough. Cyber-forensic experts are sifting through it. There’s a lot of work still to do, but it’s a breakthrough that could help in solving this crime.”

A confidential NPA instruction note to detectives accidentally attached to the indictment presented to the court moments before the appearance of the accused men states that the “cellphone records of Ms Kelly Khumalo indicating her communication with the accused must be obtained, as previously indicated.”

The note was written last week when the indictment was formulated.

Khumalo’s lawyer, Magdalene Moonsamy, said in a statement: “Our client is not implicated nor charged in this matter and is therefore not a suspect. We note that the so called “leaked document”, has been leaked with malicious intentions and urge that neither individuals nor other parties interrupt in the process of the investigation being undertaken by the police.”

Other requests the NPA made in the document, which do not relate to Khumalo, include that Gininda should file a statement detailing the events and circumstances leading to Sibiya and Ntanzi’s statements; obtain cellphone communications between the accused before, during and after the murder; and obtain outstanding DNA reports.

The DNA being sought is from Mncube, who sources said wore his hair in dreadlocks at the time of the murder.

Another source close to the investigation said that until January, the investigation was riddled with serious errors.

“We can’t say it was deliberate but there was definite negligence,” he said.

Advocate Gerrie Nel of AfriForum, who the Meyiwa family tasked in November last year with helping to solve the murder, said Sitole and Gininda’s team had done stellar work.

“It’s a really good investigating team. They have good evidence. We are confident that the killers are among the accused.

“From the onset we have said that this was not a botched robbery and that it was a contract killing,” he said. “Based on briefings we have had with the police, we are confident that this is still the case.”

NPA spokesperson Sipho Ngwema declined to answer detailed questions on the prosecutors’ instructions, saying this would compromise the investigation.

“The private note, which erroneously found itself to the media, is out of bounds,” he said. Asked why prosecutors were pursuing armed robbery charges, Ngwema said: “The NPA works with evidence. It can’t take unsubstantiated information to court.

“The NPA has not ruled out further arrests based on other possibilities.

“However, we cannot put suspicions on the charge sheet. We put facts, credible evidence. Lots of work still has to be done. The prosecution presented a provisional indictment, not a final one.”

From the onset we have said that this was not a botched robbery and that it was a contract killing.

Reasons why Senzo Meyiwa’s suspects’ court appearance is a cover-up

Five suspects appeared in court today with connection to the murder of former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa. South Africans and other media outlets suspect there could be a major cover-up at play, given the case has taken over 6 years for suspects to appear before a court.

Here are eight pointers that suggest there could be a cover-up.

Senzo was shot in the presence of Kelly and Zandi Khumalo, their mother Ntombi Khumalo, Twala, Meyiwa’s friends Mthokozisi Thwala and Tumelo Madlala, and Kelly’s then 4-year-old son, Christian, and Thingo, Kelly’s daughter.

All the above-mentioned witnesses to the murder were not arrested and they did not appear in court today.

The police lied about the arresting suspects yesterday

The police said some of the suspects were arrested yesterday, but it turned out some had already been in jail before they were charged and some were arrested in June, and another in August.

The other one says he’s already sentenced and was charged in June and it’s surprising he is here today.

One of the suspects isn’t applying for bail

One of the suspects believes he is innocent and sees no need for applying for bail. It’s very rare for a suspect in the

Suspects spoke about a cover-up

One of the suspects revealed that they are surprised to be appearing in court on the case as he does not have anything to do with the case.

Kelly Khumalo’s name was mentioned by mistake

The NPA released an internal document bearing Kelly Khumalo’s name to the media by mistake. Khumalo is implicated in the murder, but she has not been arrested and she was not in court.

Kelly Khumalo’s phone records indicate she has been in contact with one of the suspects.

The City of Erkhuruleni transported the suspects to the court, not SAPS

Ordinarily, prisoners attending court sessions are transported by SAP, but this was not the case today. The reasons for the change was not explained.

Meet Senzo Meyiwa’s wife, Mandisa Mkhize – Pictures

Just in case, you did not know her, this is the late Senzo Meyiwa’s wife, Mandisa Mkhize. If there is anything that we have noticed from Mandisa is that she has healed or in the healing process. Some few months back, one could tell that Mandisa was having the best time of her life and enjoying some time with her child.

It is hard to imagine how things are at the current moment because Mandisa and Senzo’s family and friends probably have had to deal with pain that comes as a result of this coming up again.

The whole of South Africa might know that there have been some progress that has been made in the Senzo Meyiwa murder case.

It is hard to tell how this has affected Mandisa in particular because she kind of have to be strong for the sake of their child.

Senzo has been married to Mandisa since 11 March 2013 and they seemed happy until Senzo supposedly, cheated on his wife with singer Kelly Khumalo and this is according to BRIEFLY.

But, regardless of her husband’s infidelity, she never filed for divorce, she probably thought that things would get back to where they were.

A lot has happened between them, but they probably kept one thing in mind, that they had to keep things intact for the sake of their daughter.

AfriForum speaks on Senzo Meyiwa’s death

“What is also clear is this isn’t simply a robbery that went wrong. It is an assassination”

Slain football captain Senzo Meyiwa was “assassinated”, according to lobby group Afriforum.

This comes after the announcement of five suspects arrested on Monday morning following a dramatic breakthrough after six years of fruitless investigations.

Meyiwa’s death, which was initially believed to have been a botched robbery, is now thought to have been a hit on the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain. Shot in the chest in the presence of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo, Meyiwa died at the hands of unknown assailants who entered the house, allegedly demanding valuables.

The recent arrests were the culmination of a far more nefarious narrative, according to Afriforum deputy CEO Kallie Kriel. According to Kriel, it was clearer than ever before that Meyiwa’s killer was part of a conspiracy to murder the soccer player.

The lobby group became representatives of the Meyiwa family under advocate Gerrie Nel’s private prosecution unit after long-standing dissatisfaction with the pace of the state’s investigation.

“What is also clear is that this isn’t simply a robbery that went wrong, it is an assassination,” said Kriel. He said mastermind behind the tragedy had yet to be arrested and said suspects did not include the person who ordered the hit.

“The person who pulled the trigger was not originally in the house. He went into the house and pulled the trigger. Somebody was brought to the house to commit the murder, but that person was not the mastermind,” said Kriel.

“We look forward to further arrests after this.”

Five suspects were arrested on Monday morning in Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal. They are expected to appear in the Boksburg Magistrates Court on Tuesday. According to police commissioner General Khehla Sithole, the detained suspects included “the one who pulled the trigger” and three people who were already in the house when the assailants entered.

Kriel said he commended the police who worked on cracking the case, saying there was more to come out of the investigation.

“We are determined to make sure justice is being served and to keep the wheels of justice turning,” said Kriel.

“We comment Colonel (Bongani) Gininda who led the team of investigators who worked very hard and we also want to thank the media who have kept the pressure up on this matter.

“What is also clear is that this isn’t simply a robbery that went wrong. It is an assassination and had it not been for them we would not have come this far. We are confident that because we are involved and we know the facts in this matter, that there is a very strong case here.”

Senzo Meyiwa’s mother: I’m afraid of Kelly Khumalo

Ntombifuthi Meyiwa has revealed that she is afraid of Kelly Khumalo and further slammed reports that the murder weapon used to kill her soccer star son, Senzo Meyiwa, has been found by police.

In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, an emotional Meyiwa called on her son’s spirit to speak out and reveal who the real shooter was. She added that she was afraid of “that woman”, referring to Khumalo.

She said the people who were inside the house at the time were all silent while her family was suffering.

Senzo was shot and killed in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, on October 26. He was at Khumalo’s home at the time of the shooting.

Meyiwa’s relationship with the songstress was a sore point for the family as he had already traditionally tied the knot with Mandisa Mkhize.

On Monday, police revealed that five people had been arrested for the Bafana Bafana and Orland Pirates star’s murder. Last week, it was revealed that police had discovered the alleged murder weapon. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Meyiwa said people must stop lying.

“I’m scared of her. The same person who still refuses to tell the truth about what happened to my son. My biggest wish is to see the people who killed Senzo arrested and for the truth to come out completely.

’’What hurts the most is the people who know very well what happened to my son. We know the whole truth, even the killer, but we keep seeing people blatantly lying about what happened to Senzo,” she said.

Bheki Cele and Senzo meyiwa

Meyiwa said the investigating team which has been put together by Police Minister Bheki Cele and Afriforum should be left alone to do their job.

“These high-profile people who are blocking the movement of this case must just leave Bheki Cele’s team and AfriForum alone so that this matter can finally be put to rest,” she said.

Meyiwa said the tears that her family has cried “are nothing compared to the joy this family is about to experience.”

She said those responsible will want to dig their own graves and bury themselves once they are exposed. There will be nowhere to hide,” she said.

She added that she did not believe that the person reports claim was the man who killed her son, was the one who pulled the trigger.

“People must stop playing games with us. Senzo, I’m calling you as your mother, my child… wherever you are, let your spirit speak for itself. You know who shot you, you know their names.

’’Senzo’s father (Sam) come together as the Meyiwa clan and resolve this issue. We are tired of being taken for a ride because we have no money,” she said.

She claimed there was no one caring for her grandchild.

“They don’t even care about Senzo’s child, who’s being taken care of by other people. It’s enough now,” she claimed. According to the police, they have a ’’watertight case’’ against the five.