Senzo Meyiwa’s best friend Tumelo Madlala took the stand as the seventh witness yesterday to recount the night the goalkeeper was gunned down. Madlala is one of the people who was in the house when Senzo was shot in what was described as a botched robbery.

HE WAS CONVINCED TO BE PART OF THE DOCUMENTARY

While giving his testimony, Madlala said he had been convinced by Senzo’s brother and cousin to take part in the Netflix documentary "Yes, I did the Netflix documentary because Sifiso and Siya, whoi are Senzo’s cousin and brother, came to my house and convinced me to be part of the documentary and they came on different days, not together," he said.

POLICE TRIED TO TRICK HIM

Madlala told the court how one of the investigating officers Captain Joyce Buthelezi had approached him in 2019 and convinced him to go into witness protection. He said he believes the police officer was trying to trick him to get some info from him by acting concerned. 

"Buthelezi took me to Senzo’s grave in 2019, I believe she had hopes that I would give her information that would help her solve the case. I confided in her and told her that I hadn’t said a proper goodbye to Senzo. She then took me to his grave hoping that I wiould say something different from what I had been explaining. I would confide in her but then she would not believe the things I would tell her. I perceived her as a mother whereas she had her own agenda," he said.

NOT PROTECTING ANYONE

Madlala told the court that Senzo was the only friend he had at the Khumalo home on that night in October 2014, so it confuses him that it is believed that he is protecting and knows who killed his friend. He added, "This whole thing confuses me because, in that house, there’s no other person who was my friend. So, I don’t understand why there is an impression that I am protecting someone in that house. Why would I do that? " Madlala asked. " I wasn’t interested in attending that programme but she kept insisting that I do. Even them taking me to Senzo’s grave shows that she had an agenda," Madlala emphasised. The trial continues.