Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs fans, bitter rivals on South Africa's football fields, cried together at Senzo Meyiwa's funeral in Durban yesterday.
At his Johannesburg home, Meyiwa's lover, Kelly Khumalo, watched the service at Moses Mabhida Stadium on television.
Khumalo was curled up on a couch with her mother, Ntombi. She was holding Thingo, the daughter she had with Meyiwa. Her son Christian and her sister Zandi were also present.
Khumalo was silent, accepting hugs from friends, all dressed in black, who came calling. When Meyiwa memorabilia was shown on TV, she began to cry silently.
In the stadium, photographs of Meyiwa caught the attention of the crowd and a choir sang "Kulungile, kulungile baba" (It's all right, father).
Hours before the fallen hero's body was brought in, thousands of fans kitted out in the colours of Pirates and Chiefs began to fill the stadium.
They sang, danced and blew vuvuzelas. It was as if they were waiting for a kickoff; instead, they were there for the solemn sendoff of a much-loved footballer.
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