By Andrew Warshaw
October 28 – Tributes continue to pour in following the murder of South African captain Senzo Meyiwa, with teammates speaking of their “utter devastation” and the country increasingly outraged at the shooting during what appeared to be a botched robbery.
The 27-year-old Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, who featured in South Africa’s last four Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, was attacked by intruders at his girlfriend’s house in Vosloorus, south of Johannesburg, and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Dean Furman, once on Chelsea’s books who has 18 caps for South Africa, described Meyiwa as “just the nicest guy you could wish to meet. He had a lot of great relationships within the team, kept everyone together and his performances were exemplary.”
“Beyond devastated,” added Furman on Twitter.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter, also on Twitter, called Meyiwa’s death a “senseless tragic loss” while South Africa postponed this weekend’s derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaiser Chiefs, the biggest club game in the domestic calendar, as a mark of respect.
South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, said law enforcement authorities “must leave no stone unturned in finding the killers and bring them to justice. Words cannot express the nation’s shock at this loss.”
Sam Meyiwa, the player’s father, told reporters he wanted the culprits arrested as soon as possible. “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. My heart is broken. I’m just finished.”
The shooting on Sunday night came after a week that saw former South African sporting hero Oscar Pistorius jailed for culpable homicide and Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, a former world 800-metre champion, killed in a car crash.
But the wider picture is one of a resurgence in violent crime. Meyiwa was reportedly trying to protect his girlfriend, musician Kelly Khumalo, when he was targeted.
Affectionately known as Okpara Jnr – named after Nigerian goalkeeper William Okpara who played for Orlando Pirates team from 1989 to 2005 – Meyiwa was described by the opposition Democratic Alliance as “a national symbol to every single South African”.
And the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) – in opposition in KwaZulu Natal province – said his death was a sharp reminder of the country’s crime problem, with IFP MP Petros Sithole quoted as saying it highlighted “how communities live in fear for their lives.”
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