During the ongoing trial concerning the murder of Senzo Meyiwa, presiding Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng was presented with evidence related to Kelly Khumalo in the form of phone numbers.
Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, representing the first accused, disclosed this information in court on Friday. He stated, “We have received an affidavit from Kelly Khumalo confirming that these two numbers are hers. I want to make this clear for the defence as well, my lord. Kelly Khumalo has acknowledged ownership of these numbers.”
Testimony from Vodacom Expert
Despite battling a persistent cough, Pinky Vythilingam from Vodacom’s forensic liaison division managed to provide her testimony before the court adjourned. Led by the state, Vythilingam was expected to respond to a request from the defence regarding a map showing Vosloorus on a larger scale compared to the one initially presented.
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Kelly Khumalo and Senzo Meyiwa-Image Source@XThe defence confirmed receipt of the requested information before court proceedings resumed.
Cellphone Tower Data
Vythilingam gathered data that included the addresses of cellphone towers pinged by the phones of individuals present on the night of Meyiwa’s murder. She outlined the distances from the crime scene:
- Spruitview: 1.18 km from the crime scene
- Phake: 2.2 km from Vosloorus to the crime scene
- Moleleki: 2.9 km from the crime scene
- Vosloorus Square: 3.1 km from the crime scene
Vythilingam clarified that a tower only logs a connection when there is activity on a cellphone number.
Linking Cellphone Towers
She explained, “If there is no activity, the tower does not record it. The tower that pings when a device receives a call is the receiving tower. Even if the device is moving, the end tower will not register it.”
State prosecutor advocate Ronnie Sibanda inquired if the cellphones of Meyiwa, Longwe Twala, and Kelly Khumalo connected to the Moleleki tower simultaneously. Defence counsel for the third accused, advocate Charles Mnisi, interrupted, noting that Twala and Khumalo have not testified to confirm ownership of the numbers.
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Mnisi emphasized, “The state should not assume that these numbers belong to the mentioned individuals without their testimony. Until they confirm ownership in court, the evidence related to these numbers will remain provisional.”
Case Adjourned
Due to prior commitments, Vythilingam could not continue her testimony, leading to an early adjournment. Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng announced that the case would be postponed until July 22. The court will be in recess starting Monday, with the defence expressing unwillingness to work during the break.
This postponement means Vythilingam’s testimony regarding cellphone data will not resume until July.