The captain of the South African national team, Senzo Meyiwa, was shot and killed on Sunday night in his girlfriend’s home after attempting to protect his friends and their property from armed robbers. South Africa has long been plagued by violent crime, and this is a tragedy that has shaken the nation.
“Words cannot express the nation’s shock at this loss,” said South African President Jacob Zuma, who was one of a number of high profile figures who expressed their sadness and appreciation of Senzo in the wake of the news.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Premier Soccer League, Brandt de Villiers had this to say: “I will always remember his humble nature and easy smile. Whenever he introduced the players in the line-up, always the same.”
And Senzo’s coach, Ephraim Mashaba, continued to paint the his captain as a great man, “[He] was not just a goal keeper. He was a peacemaker. That’s the biggest thing I remember about him.”
Police have started a manhunt for the 3 armed robbers, one of whom, according to an eye-witness account, “shot him at point blank range…as they were running away [and] we tried to stop them.” In a cruel detail, the robbers haul from the invasion was a single cellphone.
The Orlando Pirates, Meyiwa’s club team, have had the upcoming clash against Kaiser Chiefs postponed in the wake of the tragedy.
Police are offering a $23,000 reward for any information that leads to the capture of the 3 criminals.
