"We mourn the death of this young footballer and team leader whose life has been taken away at the prime of his career,” those were the words of South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, as he led tributes to the captain of the country’s national football team, Senzo Meyiwa, who was killed by robbers at his girlfriend’s home.
The law enforcement authorities must leave no stone unturned in finding his killers and bring them to justice. Words cannot express the nation’s shock at this loss.” Zuma said on Monday“.
Information revealed that the 27-year-old goalkeeper, was shot in the chest at the home of Kelly Khumalo – a singer and celebrity – in a township near Johannesburg.
Police report revealed that two men entered Khumalo’s house in the Vosloorus township at about 8pm local time. There were seven people inside. Meyiwa was shot in the upper body after moving towards the door, where another person was struggling with one of the attackers. He was taken to hospital but died on arrival.
A third assailant waited outside the house and all three fled on foot immediately after the shooting. They stole one mobile phone in the process.
The goalkeeper’s friend Tumelo Waka Madlala, who was at the house during the robbery, told the Associated Press Meyiwa was shot while trying to stop the intruders. “As they were running away we tried to stop them and that is when they shot him at point blank range,” Madlala said.
While addressing newsmen in Johannesburg, National football team coach Ephraim Mashaba wiped away tears as he spoke about Meyiwa. “Most of the time, these things come when you least expect,”
“We’re going to miss Senzo a lot … never mind his saving goals.
“Don’t think such a good man as Senzo can go and vanish. His spirit will live. He would always be the leader.” he said
Chairman of Soweto based Orlando Pirates, Irvin Khoza, Meyiwa’s popular league club, said the team were devastated by the killing.
“We had a session in the morning with the players at which we were soul-searching. A lot of sobbing and crying. It was uncontrollable.” he said.
The National Police Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega, described the incident as a tragic case and in her word, a “very unpalatable situation”.
She said two suspects were believed to be in their late 20s and one in his early 30s. One is reported to be “tall, slender, dark skinned with dreadlocks” while another is “short, dark and well-built”.
She further appealed to the community to assist with information that would lead to their arrest. “We believe that someone, somewhere, somehow, knows about this crime,” Phiyega said.
Aware of worldwide media scrutiny, Phiyega said: “This type of loss does not augur well for our brand and image out there, so it is important for us to ensure that, when we have those type of spoilers in our society, we as police go out there and bring about their arrest and incarceration.
“We wish to assure the nation that we as police will not leave any stone unturned as we investigate this matter. We are giving it our all.”
The Keeper’s father, Sam Meyiwa, reportedly told newsmen he wanted the culprits arrested as soon as possible. he was quoted saying by the Souith African Press Association, while speaking at his house in Durban, “They [the police] must make sure they get these people who killed my son,”
“I want them in jail. I want them in custody. I want to talk to them and ask them why they killed my son. It’s like they killed myself.”
“I don’t know if I’m coming or going. My heart is broken. I’m just finished.” Sam Meyiwa said as was still trying to come to terms with his son's death.
The shooting on Sunday night came after a tumultuous week that saw former South African sporting hero Oscar Pistorius jailed for culpable homicide and athlete Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, a former world 800-metre champion, killed in a car crash.
It also highlighted a resurgence in violent crime in South Africa, which had appeared to be beating the problem when it successfully hosted the football World Cup in 2010.
Official figures for April 2013 to March 2014 show the murder rate increased by 5%, attempted murder went up by 4.6%, aggravated robbery was up by 12.7%, and common robbery increased 0.6%. More than 17,000 people were murdered, an average of 47 per day.
Report says the Police have opened a multidisciplinary team investigation into the murder.
No evidence revealed that Meyiwa was the target of a contract killing.
Meanwhile, the Police offered a reward of 250,000 rand (£14,000) for information about the three suspects.
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