In the ongoing murder trial of Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, state prosecutor Advocate George Baloyi confirmed that singer Kelly Khumalo, despite being a person of interest in the case, will not be called to testify. This decision was made clear during the cross-examination of the lead investigator, Brigadier Bongani Gininda, who had previously applied for a warrant for Khumalo’s arrest based on evidence before him.
Defense counsel for accused number four, Advocate Zithulele Nxumalo, questioned whether Khumalo had any motive to kill Meyiwa. Gininda revealed that Khumalo had allegedly told her sister, Zandi, that she wanted to “get rid” of Meyiwa due to personal feelings of emotional strain and frustration, but this motive is still under investigation.
Nxumalo expressed his dissatisfaction with the prolonged investigation, noting that it had been 10 years since Meyiwa’s murder, yet the motive was still unclear. He further questioned the integrity of the investigation, specifically regarding whether the money used to pay the accused had come from Khumalo. Gininda responded that there was no evidence linking Khumalo to the payments, as the money was paid in cash.
Baloyi defended the decision not to call Khumalo, emphasizing that the state has the discretion to decide which witnesses to call and reiterated that Khumalo would not be summoned to testify. The prosecutor also stated that, at the end of the state’s case, all witnesses who were not called would be made available to the defense.
This decision has further complicated the case, as Khumalo, though a key figure in the investigation, remains a person of interest without being formally called to testify. The trial continues to unfold with significant public and media interest.