Residents of Mzamo Acres awaits second docket

The small community of Mzamo Acres in Vosloorus, where the former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa was murdered at his fiancé Kelly Khumalo’s home on October 26, 2014, have told Kahorus MAIL that they are satisfied with the proceedings against the five men charged with the murder at the Pretoria High Court.

Many said they are eagerly waiting for the end of the current trial and the introduction of the second docket, case number 357. It is the content of this docket and the alleged statement that was stolen from it that they say hold vital details of what really happened at the Khumalo home on the night Meyiwa was murdered.

The community of an estimated 500 households, added that, based on some of the evidence already presented in court so far, they are convinced that it is just a matter of time before the trial is concluded. They said they pin their hopes on what has become popularly known as the second docket.

It is in this police murder document that a different theory about the death of Meyiwa is presented by investigators. The theory demands that all the seven people who were in the Khumalo house on the night Meyiwa was murdered, should be arrested and charged with perjury and murder.

The case seems to be generating a lot of interest in the small local community. Some of the few residents who agreed to speak to Kathorus MAIL, did so after asking not to be identified for fear of reprisals.

They revealed that the murder eight years ago left many of them living in fear for their lives as they thought the killing was a gang-related feud between the people who were inside the Khumalo house with the deceased.

“We were left feeling unsafe and some families were forced to cower in fear of being attacked after the incident,” explained a local resident.

Some of the residents said they were relieved that the Khumalo family no longer lives in the neighbourhood. They said they were concerned about reprisal attacks against the Khumalos from fans and supporters of the former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper.

Residents claim the situation became worse immediately after Meyiwa’s death.

“We expected anything to happen at any time. We just did not know what to expect, when and from whom,” said another resident, who gave her name as Notobeko.

Speaking from behind the safety barricades around their homes in this middle-class neighbourhood, a few of the residents said the suburb was once terrified as they feared a possible revenge by Meyiwa’s friends.

“Today I thank God that nothing like that happened and the trial is proceeding as planned,” said Nontobeko.
Several residents confirmed the uncertainty that prevailed over their residential area after the murder of Senzo Meyiwa. They said they believed then that Senzo Meyiwa’s murder was a “hit”. “This is what heightened our fears and kept many of us awake at night,” recalled another resident family who described herself as a housewife who lives in the neighbourhood.

Residents said the thought of gang warfare erupting in their neighbourhood was terrifying. Some insist that the shooting was caused by a feud.

Only a few local residents said they believed the five men charged with Meyiwa’s murder at the Pretoria High Court were involved.

Two other neighbours lamented the recent death of the Khumalo neighbour, who was supposed to have given evidence at the trial but died before he could be called to court.

“I am sure as a retired police officer and neighbour of the Khumalos, the deceased neighbour, would have given the court valuable information about what he might have seen or heard that night of the murder.”

Other residents of Mzamo Acres said they do not believe the five men had anything to do with the shooting.