Newsroom

• Tshepo Thobane, the defence lawyer claimed a witness would say there was an argument before Meyiwa was shot.
• Nick Cannon welcomes his 9th child, Onyx Ice Cole Cannon. 
• Roger Federer announces his farewell tournament. 

Longwe Twala brought the gun that killed Meyiwa, but Kelly Khumalo pulled the trigger, says defence – TimesLIVE

Longwe Twala brought the pistol that fatally shot Senzo Meyiwa at the Khumalos’ Vosloorus house in October 2014, but Kelly Khumalo, Meyiwa’s lover, accidentally pulled the trigger, Shonisani Tshikalange reports for TimesLIVE.

“Cross-examining Meyiwa’s best friend, Tumelo Madlala, in the high court in Pretoria on Thursday, Thobane said there was a witness who would testify that there was a fight before Meyiwa was shot and people were heard arguing.” Read more here

Nick Cannon Just Welcomed His 9th Child – Huffington Post

On Thursday, Nick Cannon welcomed his 9th child, Onyx Ice Cole Cannon. 

“Once again Today I am in Awe of the Devine Feminine! God has given me and @MissLanishaCole the privilege of hosting an Angel here on earth. I vow to protect, provide, guide and love this child to the best of my abilities”, Cannon wrote on Instagram. Read more here

Roger Federer: Here’s why he retired and how much money he’s made during his career – Oh! My Mag

Roger Federer has built a name for himself in the tennis world by winning 20 grand slams. Now that he is 41 years old, he was chosen to retire.

The tennis great said in a message posted on his Twitter account that the Laver Cup would be his farewell tournament. According to The Guardian, Federer has had persistent knee difficulties over the last three years. Read more here

Here are the top trending stories of the day. 

Headline: Jagersfontein tragedy deepens as electricity and drinking water systems found to be severely damaged – News24 (for subscribers)

Headline: Blake Lively Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 4 With Ryan Reynolds – E! News

Headline: Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend – The Guardian

Headline: Family loses everything in house fire allegedly sparked by load shedding – News24

Headline: Chrissy Teigen Reveals She Had an Abortion to ‘Save My Life for a Baby That Had Absolutely No Chance’ – Billboard

Weather: Hot with high risk of fires in parts of country – News24

Image credit: Gallo Images

Tumelo Madlala, the third state witness, is scheduled to appear in the trial of Senzo Meyiwa on Thursday. In October 2014, two intruders broke into Kelly Khumalo’s house and killed Meyiwa. Madlala, a close friend of Meyiwa was present in the Vosloorus house when he was killed. 

Today, Madlala might tesifty that defendant, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, was one of the intruders who broke into Kelly Khumalo’s house the night Meyiwa was murdered. 

Meyiwa murder co-accused ‘hints’ on who will be pointed out by state witness – Sowetan Live

State witness Tumelo Madlala identified the intruder as Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi. The accused in the case are Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli.

Meyiwa Murder Trial | Explosive testimony emerges – eNCA

Wednesday’s last hour of the trial of Senzo Meyyiwa was intense. The prosecutor, George Baloyi, attempted to bring fresh material to direct Tumelo Madlala’s cross-examination.

Senzo Meyiwa: Kelly Khumalo wouldn’t allow cops to access estate where Meyiwa lived, court hears – News24 

That evening, Meyiwa’s girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, allegedly refused to allow police into the estate where Meyiwa lived. The witness said she wanted the lights switched off when police managed to enter the estate anyway.

Senzo Meyiwa’s family accuses witness of lying – Scrolla

Tumelo Madlala, told the court he needed a crutch to walk around, but later during his testimony at Meyiwa’s murder trial, Madlala left many stunned when he said he carried his friend’s body to his BMW X6 model car after he was shot. This raised the question of how he would have been able to carry Meyiwa’ with a crutch. 

Image credit: Gallo Images

News24 asked several political parties to comment on the Phala Phala burglary in this week’s Friday Briefing. DA, ActionSA, and FF Plus were the only parties to answer to their request. In addition, they were entrusted with analysing what it would mean for the country if Parliament failed to carry out its oversight duties.

The following is a summary of what John Steenhuisen, Herman Mashaba, and Dr. Pieter Groenewald said.

John Steenhuisen, the leader of the DA, is of the opinion that nothing constitutionally prevents Cyril Ramaphosa from answering to Parliament, the first body to which he should account. 

Herman Mashaba, the head of ActionSA, says that it should not come as a surprise that Cyril Ramaphosa has decided not to comment on the events that transpired on his property. 

Meanwhile, the head of FF Plus, Dr. Pieter Groenewald, notes that there is no portfolio committee for the Presidency in Parliament, meaning that the president is not accountable via the committee system. 

Here’s a roundup of interesting opinions, analyses, and editorials:

Cyril Ramaphosa gives SA his version of Groundhog Day with Phala Phala – News24

John Steenhuisen | The truth about Phala Phala, Mr President, will set you free – News24 (for subscribers)

Herman Mashaba | By the horns of the sable antelope, Ramaphosa must be accountable for Phala Phala – News24 (for subscribers)

Pieter Groenewald | Ramaphosa must answer for Phala Phala but do ANC MPs have the political will? – News24 (for subscribers)

Jan Gerber | ANC’s deference to Ramaphosa on Phala Phala shows Zondo’s fears warranted – News24 (for subscribers)

News24 asked several political parties to comment on the Phala Phala burglary in this week’s Friday Briefing. DA, ActionSA, and FF Plus were the only parties to answer to their request. In addition, they were entrusted with analysing what it would mean for the country if Parliament failed to carry out its oversight duties.

The following is a summary of what John Steenhuisen, Herman Mashaba, and Dr. Pieter Groenewald said.

John Steenhuisen, the leader of the DA, is of the opinion that nothing constitutionally prevents Cyril Ramaphosa from answering to Parliament, the first body to which he should account. Read more here (for subscribers)

Herman Mashaba, the head of ActionSA, says that it should not come as a surprise that Cyril Ramaphosa has decided not to comment on the events that transpired on his property. Read more here (for subscribers)

Meanwhile, the head of FF Plus, Dr. Pieter Groenewald, notes that there is no portfolio committee for the Presidency in Parliament, meaning that the president is not accountable via the committee system. Read more here (for subscribers)

Image credit: Gallo Images