South Africans are in mourning today as the nation woke up to the tragic news of the passing of Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain, Senzo Meyiwa.
Meyiwa was fatally shot on Sunday night in what appears to be a botched armed robbery.
According to various reports, Meyiwa was shot and killed at his girlfriend, South African singer Kelly Khumalo’s home in Vosloorus in Johannesburg. It s believed that three intruders entered the house with guns and that Meyiwa was shot when he tried to protect his girlfriend.
The intruders were apparently pointing a gun towards Kelly as they demanded the people inside the house hand over valuables including cellphones, laptops and jewellery. When Meyiwa moved in front of his girlfriend he was shot in the back.
The bullet then exited through his chest and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital.
Condolences came pouring in from right across the globe for the popular goalkeeper. Friends and teammates expressed their heartbreak on various social edia sites and a media briefing by Bafana Bafana coach, Shakes Mashaba, and other executives was held this afternoon.
Mashaba was clearly very upset as he struggled to hold back the tears at the media briefing.
Messages of heartfelt condolences were spread from South Africa to England, with even ex-England captain, Steven Gerrard, expressing his heartbreak over the senseless murder of the 27-year old South African football captain.
As for the cowards who shot him and then fled, they are, as far as we know, still on the loose. The South African Police Service has promised to do anything and everything in their power to book the ruthless killers for this tragedy.
They are also offering a reward of R150 000 for anyone with information, or who can bring in, the killers.
This Saturday’s Soweto Derby between the Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs has also been postponed out of respect for the mourning team and the memory of the great footballer the Meyiwa was.
It is always so incredibly heartbreaking when people get murdered for no reason whatsoever. We as South Africans have become so used to waking up to news of yet another innocent killing, and it has to stop!
Our condolences go out to the Meyiwa family, Senzo’s friends and teammates. May you rest in peace, Meyiwa. We will never forget you.