Senzo Meyiwa trial: Police found gun when accused was arrested, court told

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Monday heard details of how one of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial was arrested by the police.

The state called Chipane Lesley Kgaphola as a new witness to testify about accused Mthobisi Mncube.

Mncube rented a room on Kgaphola’s property in Malvern, Johannesburg in 2015, just a few months after Meyiwa died.

The former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper was fatally shot by alleged armed intruders at the Vosloorus family home of his then-girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo, on 26 October 2014.

Former landlord testifies

Kgaphola told the court Mncube and his former partner, Kagiso Tefu, moved in earlier than expected, after an initial agreement they would move in in February.

“I received payment from Mr Mncube. The couple then moved in. It was R1 600 for January,” he said.

“He didn’t specifically explain why, but he said they needed to move in and they did. They moved into room five, which is close to the kitchen.”

Kgaphola said Mncube had dreadlocks.

State witnesses in the trial testified one of the intruders alleged to be behind Meyiwa’s killing had dreadlocks.

ALSO READ: ‘Gun photos could have been from Google’: Defence lawyer in Senzo Meyiwa trial

Mncube’s lawyer, advocate Charles Mnisi, previously admitted the man depicted in the pictures shown in court with dreadlocks was indeed his client in the dock.

The pictures were found on Mncube’s phone, which also had images of guns (one of which was saved under the name “my killing machine“), ammunition, an axe and a panga.

Furthermore, Kgaphola also testified on Monday Mncube was arrested weeks after he moved in. He said Tefu continued to live on the property despite his arrest.

Following a brief adjournment, Mncube’s lawyer, advocate Charles Mnisi briefly cross-examined Kgaphola before Tefu took the witness stand.

Witness give details of arrest

During her testimony, Tefu took the court through how she met Mncube in January 2015.

“At the time I met him, I was looking for accommodation in Johannesburg so I could be closer to my workplace [in Woodmead]. He suggested we both look for a common place where we would co-habit,” she said.

The witness said Mncube paid the rent when they moved in. She said the accused was arrested two weeks later.

“It could have been on the 9th of February 2015. I think it was in the afternoon, perhaps 4pm or 5pm. I was coming from work and then I called him to meet me at the bus stop as I was carrying plastics.

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“Upon my arrival, I found him waiting for me as I had been travelling in a taxi. He then took one plastic package from me because it appeared he had sustained an injury in one arm. We lived on the second street from the bus stop,” Tefu explained to the court.

Tefu said before they could reach their home, a police vehicle stopped them.

Three police officers – two men and a woman – apparently got out of the car and pointed their firearms at Mncube.

“I tried to move and they said I should stand there and put the packages down. They instructed him to lie down and started searching him. The female officer pulled me aside and told me they had been looking for him. I think at the time accused number three had already shown them where we lived,” she said.

Watch: What you need to know about the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial so far

Firearm found

The witness said the officer later proceeded to search the room they lived in.

“One of the police officers said he found a firearm on top of the wardrobe. He then asked the female officer to fetch the exhibit bags from the vehicle.

“Before they could put the firearm in the bag, they asked us if we knew who the firearm belonged to. I told them I didn’t. Accused number three didn’t reply, he just kept quiet.

“They said they would arrest both of us… that’s when Mncube told them that I didn’t know anything about the gun.”

READ MORE: Senzo Meyiwa trial: Cop admits it did not occur to him to collect some evidence from the house

She said all the furniture in the room, including the wardrobe, belonged to Mncube.

Tefu told the court police also found a box, but she did not know what was contained in it. She also did not see what happened to Mncube’s cellphone after he was arrested.

The witness revealed she lived at the property until November or December 2015.

“I was the one paying the rent,” she replied.

Tefu added Mncube had braided dreadlocks.

The trial will resume on Tuesday.