The third witness in the murder trial of former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, Tumelo Madlala, took the stand for the second day at the High court in Pretoria on Wednesday morning.
Madlala was a close friend of the slain goalkeeper and traveled from KwaZulu Natal to visit his friend in Gauteng.
Meyiwa was shot at the home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, in October 2014 and Madlala was one of the people who were inside the house in Vosloorus when Meyiwa was killed.
Madlala, in tears, narrated the last moments when he and others at the hospital were informed that Meyiwa, a goalminder at Orlando Pirates, had taken his last breath.
“When we arrived there, I didn’t know whether it was a hospital or clinic, but it’s called Botshelong [Empilweni Private],” explained Meyiwa’s friend Madlala.
“When we arrived, we requested for a stretcher, but they brought us a wheelchair. We then informed them to bring us a stretcher and not a wheelchair. They then got a stretcher and left with him to the other side, and we remained to wait on the benches.
“After a while, a nurse came back holding a picture of the X-ray. He then requested for an elderly person, then Kelly’s mother came forward. Kelly’s mother came to us crying and informed us that Senzo was no more.
“Everyone started crying. I then requested to go and see him. He was covered and lying on a stretcher. When I went to view him for the second time, I was alone because (others) didn’t want to view him again, but Kelly followed me,” Madlala continued.
“When I got there, I was crying, and I asked him, ‘Senzo, is this what you called me to (Gauteng) to come and see?’ I then kissed him on his forehead, and Kelly removed his watch from his hand.
“From there they took us to the benches in the waiting room. By then it was packed at the hospital because even his wife Mandisa (Meyiwa) arrived. Even soccer players from Pirates had arrived because there were many cars.”
Madlala’s testimony continues on Thursday…
