Zandie Khumalo describes her short-lived relationship with Longwe Twala. Zandie Khumalo, the sister of Kelly Khumalo, was excused from court after testifying in the Senzo Meyiwa trial at the High Court of Pretoria as a state witness. Following the appointment of a new judge two weeks ago, Zandie testified for a second week in the Senzo Meyiwa trial.

Zandie was re-interviewed by state attorney George Baloyi, who questioned her over her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Longwe Twala, the son of artist Chicco Twala. Baloyi mentioned a message Zandie had sent to Longwe asking if she could stay with him.

“How would you characterize your relationship with Longwe,” Baloyi asked, to which Zandie responded, “My relationship with Longwe didn’t last long and here it was still fairly new. I would say it was still in the honeymoon stage.” Baloyi asked Zandie to describe her relationship with Longwe and Zandie Khumalo maintained that, “He used to call me Angel, Baby, Sunshine”.

There was something about Zandie’s testimony that puzzled Judge Ratha Mokgoathleng, who intervened before Zandie could step down.

“They put it to you that no two intruders ever entered the house. Have you heard that? Advocate Zithulele Nxumalo (of the defence) went further to say one of you who were in the house killed Senzo.”

Responding to Judge Mokgoathleng Zandie said, “I heard that but what I will request is that they prove it.That’s not true. None of us killed Senzo and if they have such evidence they must bring that evidence,” she said, adding: “One moment they say there were no intruders and then they ask me about the intruders which is baffling. When would we have had the chance to build up that story, others went out and I was the last to go out to go to MaPhiri (the neighbour) and when we came back we went to the hospital. When we came back from the hospital, there were police officers at home,” Zandie told the court.

Zandie replied when Mokgoathleng continued, “I’m also perplexed that the neighbors didn’t see anyone run up or down the street.”

“What I know is that the people took statements of the neighbours. As to the contents of those statements, I have no idea.” Zandie responded The judge went on to say it was puzzling that the intruder could just vanish.

Today, a second trial witness took the witness stand. Following Zandie, Khaya Ngcatshe, a neighbor who resided next door to Kelly Khumalo in Vosloorus, began to give his testimony. Ngcatshe claimed that the night Senzo was shot, he heard cries and bustle and assumed that his neighbors were having a party. He testified in court that just before a shot was fired, he peered through his bedroom window into the residence of his neighbor and noticed a man in a white T-shirt leaning against the kitchen door.