Meyiwas 'inconsolable'

28 October 2014 - 02:02 By Khanyiso Tshwaku
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A MOTHER'S PAIN: Senzo Meyiwa's mother, Ntombifuthi, returns to her home near Durban after her discharge from hospital
A MOTHER'S PAIN: Senzo Meyiwa's mother, Ntombifuthi, returns to her home near Durban after her discharge from hospital
Image: TEBOGO LETSIE

"I have lost my son - I don't know where I am going to get another Senzo," the murdered Senzo Meyiwa's father, Samuel, said.

"This has really broken my heart and I don't know what to do. I don't know if I am going or coming. I can't even feel myself and it seems like I'm finished."

Samuel said the family was inconsolable and battling to come to terms with the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain's killing.

His mother, Ntombifuthi, was rushed to hospital on Sunday night after hearing that her son had been shot dead by house robbers at the home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo, in Vosloorus, on the East Rand. She had to be carried into the family home in Umlazi, near Durban, after being discharged from hospital yesterday.

Samuel said his son had planned to visit the family in Umlazi ahead of Saturday's Soweto derby between Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

The derby has been postponed because of the killing.

Struggling to hold back his tears, the father said the killers - who are still at large - have no idea of the pain and loss they have brought upon the family.

"I wish his killers will man-up and tell us why they killed him, even though we might find it hard to forgive them."

Samuel said Meyiwa's estranged wife, Mandisa Mkhize, will be joining the family today or tomorrow.

"He was supposed to come on Sunday [after] playing against Ajax Cape Town.

He was going to drive back but I think he was waiting for someone to pay him and [when that did not happen] somehow that changed his plans," his father said.

Meyiwa's cousin, Siyabonga Miya, said the family had lost a son and the nation "an icon and a soldier".

Miya said the family was told of Meyiwa's death on Sunday night.

"The news broke on social media before we were informed but that's not important now. We have lost someone who is very important to us.

"Senzo enjoyed his football and nothing about his character ever changed, even though he became famous and played for the national team.

"His maturity was soaring by the time of his passing. He would stop at nothing to ensure that each and every family member was taken care of."

The 27-year-old goalkeeper will be buried on Saturday.

Miya said Meyiwa had big plans for his life that encompassed not only football.

"He was [planning to start] projects that [included] football [and] other sports like swimming. Senzo had a twin brother, Siya, who drowned, so he always had an interest in swimming because of that," Miya said.

Phumlani Molefe, an Umlazi neighbour who had known the 'keeper since 1994, described Meyiwa as a kind of person who would never go looking for trouble.

"I saw Senzo last month when he came around in his new car - the BMW X6 - and he was still as humble as he has always been.

"His death is not easy to deal with ," Molefe said.

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