Senzo Meyiwa trial: Witness and Kelly Khumalo’s neighbour dies

State witness who was also singer Kelly Khumalo’s neighbour at her home in Vosloorus, Gauteng Lesley Ngcatshe has died.

This was revealed by State Prosecutor Advocate George Baloyi at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Thursday, 20 July.

WITNESS AND KELLY’S NEIGHBOUR DIES

According to Baloyi, Lesley Ngcatshe died two weeks ago.

Lesley and his son Khaya have been mentioned quite a few times by both witnesses and legal representatives in court. The two also helped carry Meyiwa into his BMW X6 which rushed him to Botshelong Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

ALSO READ: Meyiwa was shot trying to separate a fight between Zandie and Longwe, court hears

Ngcatshe is not the first witness in the Meyiwa murder case who has died. In May 2022, General Philani Ndlovu who was reportedly a Brigadier when Meyiwa was shot, also died.

According to reports, Ndlovu was expected to give key evidence on behalf of the State in the ongoing murder trial. 

Ndlovu,  who is a former provincial head of SAPS, was one of the first people at the scene of the incident. He had been mentioned by the first state witness, police officer Thabo Mosia, who was also at the scene.

The NPA said Ndlovu was not a key witness and his death would not have any impact on the case.

ALSO READ: ‘Not a key witness’: NPA on Gen Philani Ndlovu’s role in the Meyiwa trial

Meyiwa was shot dead on 26 October 2014 at the home of his girlfriend and singer Kelly Khumalo in Vosloorus, Gauteng in an alleged botched robbery.

Meyiwa’s close friends Mthokozisi Thwala, Tumelo Madlala as well as Longwe Twala, singer Kelly Khumalo, her mother Ntombi Gladness Khumalo, her sister Zandie Khumalo and her two children Christian and Thingo were present when the goal keeper was shot.

ALSO READ:  Kelly Khumalo’s lawyer pulls out of the Meyiwa murder case

When Madlala testified under Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela, legal representative for accused 5 Advocate Zandile Mshololo referred to a statement deposed by Khaya Ngcatshe who said that he heard noise, commotion and shoving at the Khumalo household.

Kelly’s neighbour said he thought there was a party as the noise was loud. He then peeped through his bedroom window into the Khumalo home and saw a person wearing a white T-shirt with his back against the kitchen door before a shot was fired.

Madlala confirmed that Meyiwa was wearing a white T-shirt, jeans and white sneakers on the day of the incident.

ALSO READ: ‘Justice for Senzo’: Zandie Khumalo writes to Ramaphosa to fast track proceedings

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