We are used to terms such as “trial by media”, “give me my day in court” and similar refrains from politicians each time they are caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
On Friday morning, I felt that if ever there was a person who deserved to make such a comment, it must be Kelly Khumalo.
The singer was on eNCA promoting one of her songs.
She sat for an interview and later performed. While I was watching the interview, I heard someone say: “I’m sorry, but I can’t stand this woman. I can’t even listen to anything she sings.”
Later, I came across the eNCA’s Facebook page, and I have never seen so much anger and so many insults directed at an individual.
There were more than 2 000 comments from people who had seen her, and the majority were angry at her and at eNCA for giving her a platform.
READ: ‘Hitman’ claims Kelly Khumalo plotted Senzo Meyiwa murder
A large part of society remains angry with Khumalo following the death of her then lover, popular Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, who was gunned down in her presence at her family home in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, in 2014.
Accounts differ as to whether Meyiwa was killed by one of the people in the house or by an intruder.
Khumalo’s critics say she knows who killed Meyiwa and have sought to implicate her in the killing, despite her repeated denials. She has known no peace since the incident.
Comments on the eNCA social media page include: “You are crazy”; “She’s under investigation for murder and has been implicated, but you are busy selling her on TV”; “Even if she sings exactly like the angel Gabriel, until she tells us the truth about Senzo’s murder she can go fly a kite”; “Her singing won’t change the fact that Orlando Pirates suffered six seasons without a trophy because of her”; and “We miss our goalkeeper”.
However, there were those who defended her, saying she is innocent until proven guilty and that she sings beautifully.
READ | Kelly Khumalo: Is it my fault that Senzo loved me?
The police must conclude this case.
Tomorrow will be a full six years since the murder, and the police hierarchy has promised year after year that law enforcement is about to wrap up the case and present suspects in court.
City Press reported recently that the actual suspect had been identified and the gun found, yet somehow justice remains elusive for the Meyiwa family and Senzo’s fans, and the case remains an albatross around the police’s neck.
Khumalo deserves to have the case heard so that she is either cleared or duly tried and punished.
Until that happens, there is so much hatred that is spewed at the mere mention of her name, and we don’t even know whether or not it is justified.
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