Her sister Kelly Khumalo's boyfriend, Senzo Meyiwa, was shot and killed. Zandie Khumalo, a public figure and artist who was present when slain footballer Senzo Meyiwa was fatally shot at her sister Kelly Khumalo’s home nine years ago, did not produce sufficient reasons in her application to prevent the visual and audio broadcast of her testimony, the judge at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has ruled.
Zandie Khumalo was due to take the stand on Monday and shed light on the circumstances of the killing of Bafana Bafana star Senzo Meyiwa. Still, she failed to do so, citing anxiety and a social media onslaught. Instead, Khumalo applied to ban both the visual and live broadcast of her testimony and cross-examination.
On Thursday, Judge Tshifiwa Maumela ruled against the application because the witness did not advance sufficient reasons. Two, those electronic media members are permitted to live-broadcast the testimony of witness number one using audio. The right for the public to know can never trump how the witness wants to testify. I might add that the prohibition of images of witness number one while she testifies shall remain in place until the finalisation of this case, said Judge Maumela. Meyiwa was shot in what the State believes was a botched robbery and what the defence argues was a cold-blooded murder.
The defence poked several holes in their testimonies. During their testimony and cross-examination, both broke down with emotion. The State used this as part of its reason that Khumalo should be allowed to testify without a live broadcast. We saw the two previous witnesses breaking down during their testimony.
Why should this witness be castigated? Baloyi argued in court. Maumela, however, argued in his ruling that the court found this witness did not advance sufficient reasons to justify an order restricting both visual and audio broadcast.
All the defence lawyers and media lawyers submitted heads of arguments rejecting the application because she sought privilege which had not been afforded to other witnesses before her. The defence also argued that a ban on the live broadcast would harm the accused whose families were following proceedings in the live stream and the deceased's family, among other interested parties.
This article is initially published by dailymaverick.co.za under Senzo Meyiwa Murder updates
