Kelly Khumalo’s sister, Zandie Khumalo-Gumede, sparked a debate when she painted Senzo Meyiwa’s wife Mandisa Mkhize as a suspect in a television interview. Senzo was shot and killed on 26 October 2014 at the Khumalo’s Vosloorus home.
Zandie claimed that the widow should be a prime suspect in the murder of the former Bafana Bafana goalie. Gumede also pointed a finger at Senzo’s mother, Nombifuthi Meyiwa.
During her exclusive eNCA interview Zandie questions authorities on why they have not investigated Mandisa Mkhize. She challenges police as to why Mandisa’s phone was never seized after the incident.
“No one has ever looked at Mandisa, our phones were taken, and Mandisa’s phone has never been taken, why is she not being investigated?”
“But no one has ever looked at Mandisa. Why is she not being investigated? Is it even possible that Senzo’s mother and Mandisa conspired? Why can’t police look at other people, look at other possibilities?” asks Zandie.
Gumede also suggests another theory, implying that Mandisa might have decided to hire the robbers to kill Senzo’s mistress, Kelly, but Senzo was murdered instead.
“Senzo’s mom was on TV saying she tried by all means to end Kelly and Senzo’s relationship, she even went as far as getting muthi….maybe she and her daughter-in-law sent a hitman, not necessarily to target Senzo but to target Kelly to make sure their relationship doesn’t happen,” she added.
Zandie speaks out on her version of events
In the interview with eNCA, Zandie gave her side of the story on the fateful night that Senzo was murdered. On the night of the murder, Khumalo-Gumede recalled going to the neighbour’s house for help and the events afterwards.
“Kelly and Mthoko and some of the guys from next door were holding Meyiwa trying to get him into the back of the car and I just jumped in there and helped in any way that I could.”
Zandie states how she tried to help Senzo stay alive as she sat with him at the back of the car. She recalled how she could feel him withering away and getting colder as they rushed to the hospital.
“I was the one sitting with Senzo at the back [of the car] putting pressure on the wound leading to the hospital. Even on our way to the hospital I could feel him getting cold from his feet … I was busy talking to him all the way, trying to keep him alive but unfortunately …” she said.
The singer disclosed about the morning afterwards, including the investigation inquiries that took place. Zandie stated that they all gave police statements and suspect illustrations as well as submitted their phones for investigation. Khumalo-Gumede maintained that she and her boyfriend at the time, Longwe Twala, tried to co-operate with the police as best they could.
She also shared how, years after the events occurred, investigating officers had her, her sister Kelly, and their mother take part in role-playing exercises and lie detector tests.