Kelly Khumalo Faces Allegations of Orchestrating Senzo Meyiwa’s Murder

According to court testimony, South African gospel singer Kelly Khumalo allegedly orchestrated the murder of her then-boyfriend, football star Senzo Meyiwa. The incident occurred in 2014 when Mr. Meyiwa was shot while trying to protect Ms. Khumalo from armed robbers. Five suspects were arrested in 2020, and lead investigator Bongani Gininda asserted in the Gauteng High Court that Khumalo had orchestrated “a contractual assassination or hit.”

Ms. Khumalo’s spokesperson told the BBC that they have faith in the legal process, and while Khumalo cannot comment, her legal team is actively addressing the situation. The trial of those accused of killing Mr. Meyiwa, a former captain of the national football team and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, has captured the country’s attention.

Khumalo initially came under suspicion after police documents were leaked in 2020. One suspect, in his confession statement, claimed that Khumalo had instructed them to kill Mr. Meyiwa. The lead investigator also mentioned “cell phone linkages” connecting Khumalo to the suspects. Colonel Lambertus Steyn testified that Khumalo had been in contact with one of the accused before the murder, and a photograph of money found on Khumalo’s phone matched an image on one of the suspect’s phones.

The court is currently determining the admissibility of the confession statements, as two suspects allege that their confessions were made under duress. Despite having one child together, the investigator claimed that Khumalo and Mr. Meyiwa had fallen out, with Khumalo reportedly harboring animosity towards him. Communication records between Khumalo and her sister from early 2013 were presented as evidence of her desire to “get rid of him.”