The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial took another twist on Wednesday when accused number three disputed evidence by police cellphone analyst Sergeant Moses Mabasa.
During cross-examination in the high court in Pretoria, Mthobisi Mncube’s defense counsel, advocate Charles Mnisi, argued that one of the individuals in the photo evidence is none other than the late maskandi artist Khulekani Khumalo, best known by his stage name Mgqumeni, who passed away in December 2009.
“My instruction is that I should put it to you without dilly-dallying that the gentleman who is depicted in the picture on pages 18 and 19 is maskandi artist Mgqumeni, and unfortunately, he is no more. It’s not the accused,” said Mnisi.
Mabasa, who specialises in cellphone analysis within the SA Police Service, testified on Tuesday that in August 2020, he was assigned the task of collating photos retrieved from a confiscated cellphone and memory cards of Mncube.
During his examination of the data, Mabasa discovered several incriminating photos, including images of a man with dreadlocks.
The presence of a dreadlocked man in the photos has become a point of contention in the trial.
Zandie Khumalo, the state’s first witness, previously stated that two intruders invaded her home in Vosloorus, robbed the occupants and fired a shot that killed Meyiwa on the night of October 26 2014.
Khumalo described one of the intruders as a short man with dreadlocks and singled out accused number two, Bongani Ntanzi, as another intruder.
Five men including Mncube are on trial for charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The accused – Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Ntanzi, Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, and Sifiso Ntuli have all pleaded not guilty to the murder of Meyiwa.
The trial continues with a new witness, Mthokozisi Thwala, taking the stand to testify.
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