The trial surrounding the murder of South African soccer star Senzo Meyiwa has taken a dramatic turn with allegations implicating Longwe Twala, the son of renowned music producer Sello “Chicco” Twala. According to recent court testimonies, Longwe is accused of fatally shooting Meyiwa on the night of October 26, 2014.
During the ongoing trial at the Pretoria High Court, advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, representing Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya (one of the accused), made the shocking claim that Longwe was responsible for Meyiwa’s death. This revelation emerged during the cross-examination of Lt-Col Christian Mangena, a ballistic expert who had previously testified about the case.
Mngomezulu asserted that Longwe used a .38 special revolver, allegedly owned by his father Chicco, to shoot Meyiwa. However, Mangena’s subsequent testimony cast doubt on this claim. Mangena confirmed that the gun used in the murder was tested and found to be a 9mm parabellum semi-automatic pistol, not a revolver.
The controversy centers on the evidence presented in court. Mngomezulu questioned Mangena about a firearm license and a 9mm pistol received by the court on November 14, 2014. The license and firearm were part of the evidence bag but were found to be unrelated to the murder weapon after ballistic testing.
Mangena clarified that the primary purpose of the firearm’s testing was to determine if it was the weapon used in the crime, not to establish its ownership. He stated that the license’s owner and the firearm’s owner were not part of his investigation. Despite this, Mngomezulu maintained that the firearm belonged to Chicco Twala and suggested that the presence of Longwe at the crime scene linked him to the shooting.
Mangena and Mngomezulu had a tense exchange over the ownership and use of the firearm. Mngomezulu argued that Chicco Twala’s firearm was not present at the crime scene and questioned why a gun legally owned by Chicco was brought into the case if he was not at the scene. Mangena, however, insisted that he could not confirm the ownership of the firearm.
The allegations against Longwe Twala add another layer of complexity to the ongoing murder trial, which has been marked by numerous twists and turns since Meyiwa’s death. The trial continues to captivate public attention as more evidence and testimonies come to light.