DNA expert Captain Mmampshedi Phineas Masetla told the Pretoria High Court on Monday that Afro-soul singer Kelly Khumalo was excluded from swap samples that were analysed.
Masetla also excluded three of Senzo Meyiwa’s suspected murderers Mthokozisi Maphisa, Fisokuhle Ntuli, and Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya after their DNAs were not found on any of the 12 swabs conducted by his office.
The swabs were conducted five years after the murder of Meyiwa at the Vosloorus home of his then-girlfriend Kelly on October 26 2014.
Masetla is a senior forensic analyst and reporting officer at the biology section of the forensic science laboratory which falls under the SA Police Service.
He is responsible for analysing DNA results for purposes of interpreting results.
“You can also find what is called a mixture DNA. A mixture DNA is a DNA that is donated by more than one person,” Masetla said.
“So, those are the results that you can get when the samples are analysed. What I do is what we call DNA comparison. It is where I check for a match or a non-match.
“I would then compile a DNA report to table the results and show the results from those particular exhibits from the scene and exhibits from the reference samples.”
He said his office conducted swabs on different objects found at the house where Meyiwa was killed, and they all also excluded sixth state witness Mthokozisi Thwala, seventh witness and Meyiwa’s best friend Tumelo Madlala, and Longwe Twala.
Masetla mentioned that 12 swabs were conducted including on door handles, furniture, tiles and bathroom.
Swabs matching Kelly’s mother Gladness Khumalo were found on two door handles to room one and another room of the house. They were also found on the toilet handle.
Kelly’s sister Zandie Khumalo’s DNA was found on a Smirnoff bottle.
Masetla added that Meyiwa’s DNA was found on two blood swabs from a TV stand, the mouth of a Heineken can and kitchen tile wall.
A single-donor profile also matched Meyiwa from the right- and left-hand swabs conducted.
However, Masetla said some of the swabs showed no result because not enough DNA could be gathered, therefore showing negative results.
He added that in such cases, his office does not conduct further swabs on the objects. These included a kitchen tile wall, bedroom three, and crutches.
A toilet handle also resulted in a female figure, but he asserted that it related to no one who formed part of his reference samples.
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