Advocate Zandile Mshololo has concluded her cross-examination by informing the court that it is false that her client, Fisokuhle Ntuli, called singer Kelly Khumalo, who was Senzo Meyiwa’s lover.
Mshololo, the defence counsel for accused number five in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, said on Friday at the High Court in Pretoria as she wrapped up her cross-examination with the mobile data expert.
This comes after an intensive two-day grilling in which Colonel Gideon Gouws testified about the accused’s cellphone information in the case.
Mshololo said this was referring to Colonel Lambertus Steyn’s testimony. He is a retired mobile data analyst who testified in August 2023.
“Then I discovered Kelly Khumalo with number 082… She receives a call from Ntuli Fisokuhle 073..202,” she said, quoting Steyn.
“This says the call lasted for 110 seconds, close to two minutes and was at a Tower in Kimberley on 2 August 2015. And the second call was allegedly made on 15 October 2014. It lasted 98 seconds and the tower was in Limpopo,” said Mshololo.
Defence disputes cellphone expert who said her client called Khumalo
She further asked Gouws if there was an entry on the call that allegedly took place on August 2, 2015. The one that Kelly Khumalo received from the number 073..202.
State prosecutor advocate George Baloyi objected to the question. He said Gouws didn’t analyse that and didn’t make that statement.
“You know, colonel, you can’t run away from the truth. You have been testifying about the evidence of other numbers. Now, I was asking for your skill and now you are saying it’s not your evidence. You’re running away because you know there’s no entry of a call,” said Mshololo.
Gouws said he cannot testify on behalf of someone else’s statement.
“It is not correct that the accused five called Kelly Khumalo. The state knows it is not the truth,” Mshololo added.
Advocate Baloyi interjected. He said it is wrong for Mshololo to make that submission. A person from the service provider will testify on the matter, he said.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng reprimanded Mshololo. He said it is the duty of the court to determine what’s true and not either counsel.
Two of the alleged numbers belonged to accused’s family members
On Wednesday, Mshololo told the court that two of the numbers that are associated with her client, Ntuli, belonged to his cousin Lungisani Ndwandwe and his late mother.
In October 2014, Meyiwa was fatally shot at his musician girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s home in Vosloorus. This happened during an alleged robbery gone wrong.
Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Ntanzi, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, Mthobisi Mncube, and Ntuli,are on trial for the murder. They have all pleaded not guilty.
The trial continues as the state is asked to lead additional statements by Gouws.
