The widow of KwaZulu-Natal rugby player Lindani Myeni, who was shot dead by police in Hawaii last year, has been denied a two-year visa extension to remain in the country.
Lindsay Myeni, 30, is at her wits' end after home affairs denied her application this week, giving her 10 days to appeal or face the grim reality of being banned from SA for five years.
Her application for an extension had been pending for more than a year before Zulu king Misuzulu KaZwelithini intervened in July and wrote a letter demanding the mother of two be granted citizenship.
I am being chased out of the country like a dog and forced to go back to Hawaii. This island is only an hour’s drive from top to bottom and an hour’s drive from side-to-side. It’s tiny and I have to live there with my husband’s killer because he’s still a police officer.
— Lindsay Myeni
Despite the missive finding its way into home affairs deputy minister Njabulo Nzuza’s hands and being referred to the relevant officials, Lindsay’s application was denied.
According to the rejection letter, it was due to her “appearing on the visa-and-entry stop-list”.
It also states she failed to submit a valid visa or a letter of good cause.
“I have no idea why I am appearing on the visa-and-entry stop-list. I just had someone look into that and they said it is not true. I am not on that list. My visa was valid when I applied and you only need to submit a letter of good cause if you are illegally in the country, which I was not. I followed all the necessary requirements in my application and I have still been denied,” she said.
Having followed the law to the letter, she was at a dead end, she said, and had wasted a year-and-a-half on the application.
“The system is old, outdated and doesn’t make sense. Previously, when you were on a visitor’s visa, you could not change it to a relative’s visa. You needed to go back to your home country to do that. Then in 2019 the law changed because they didn’t want to put families through so much trouble and separate them from their loved ones. You were allowed to remain in the country when changing your status. The problem is, if the answer at the end of your application is no, then you have 10 days to leave the country and when you cross the border they will ban you for five years.”
Lindsay said she felt hard done by by the SA government, having been promised citizenship at Lindani’s funeral.
“I am being chased out of the country like a dog and forced to go back to Hawaii. This island is only an hour’s drive from top to bottom and an hour’s drive from side-to-side. It’s tiny and I have to live there with my husband’s killer because he’s still a police officer.”
She remains adamant Lindani was killed because he was black.
“It’s a lot of weight on my shoulders. I’m tired. Just as things started looking up, I am having to deal with this unnecessary pressure. I’ve bought a house in SA, my husband was from here and my kids have dual citizenship. I have a right to be here.”
She said she had to fork out exorbitant legal fees to draft her appeal and travel from KZN to Johannesburg for the hearing.
“It costs almost R20k for a good lawyer to draft your appeal and then the added costs of travelling. I am a single mother with two children. Where am I supposed to get that kind of money?”
Home affairs spokesperson Siya Qoza did not respond to questions on the matter.
Lindani played flank for the Durban-based Jaguars rugby club before he and Lindsay were married.
The 29-year-old was shot by police officers in Honolulu on April 14 2021 after he tried to enter a private home Lindsay believes he might have mistaken for a public temple.
At Myeni’s funeral, Lindsay said she was relieved when provincial officials promised her citizenship. She said she didn’t want “to raise kids that are considered black in America, where clearly it’s not safe”.
Director-general of home affairs Tommy Makhode said Myeni was being assisted by the department.
"All the necessary procedures are being followed to offer her support. We have been in contact with Ms Myeni and informed her that all she needs to do is submit an appeal and it will speedily be attended to.
"We encourage Ms Myeni to follow this arrangement that has been put in place for her," Makhode said.
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