Stars cut short in their prime

A number of South African footballers have died unnatural deaths while at the top of their game.

But Senzo Meyiwa, killed on Sunday night, was the first high-profile, active footballer to die after being shot since Aaron "Roadblock" Makhathini, of Moroka Swallows, was killed in 1985 .

Two other Bafana players whose deaths shocked the nation were Gift Leremi and Lesley Manyathela. Both were killed in car accidents.

Leremi died just over seven years ago in a high-speed crash near Alberton, on the East Rand, shortly after returning home from playing for Mamelodi Sundowns in an African Confederation Cup match in Cameroon.

Four years before that, Pirates' Lesley "Slow Poison" Manyathela died on his way home to Limpopo to visit his family.

He was just 22, set for a lengthy career in the national side and was due to go for trials in France.

Phumlani Dindi, who won a single Bafana cap, also died in a car accident. Abram Raselemane took his own life in 2008.

Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs defender Jeffrey Ntuka, and Banyana midfielder Eudy Simelane, were both stabbed to death.