I pray Senzo will now finally get a tombstone, says Sam Meyiwa

08 June 2018 - 07:00 By Kyle Zeeman
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Sam Meyiwa, father of slain Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa says he hopes to soon put a tombstone on his son's grave.
Sam Meyiwa, father of slain Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa says he hopes to soon put a tombstone on his son's grave.
Image: Gallo Images / Daily Sun / Trevor Kunene

Sam Meyiwa has been waiting nearly four years for his son's grave to get a tombstone that honours the former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, and after several disappointments he is hoping to finally raise the funds to make it happen.

Former soccer star Ntokozo “Koloba” Sikhakhane has been working with Senzo's family to raise funds for a tombstone honouring the footballer, who was shot and killed in an alleged robbery in Vosloorus in October 2014.

Ntokozo is organising a soccer tournament in Umlazi, Durban this weekend to try to reach their R50,000 goal, and Senzo's father Sam said he was confident the amount would be reached.

"Ntokozo has been a blessing. He said that he wanted to help us and I believe that he will. I want to give my son a tombstone he deserves. One that will tell people what he did for soccer and his community. I think something that has him and a ball on it. It must be special like he was."

Sam said that despite several promises from businessmen since Senzo's death, no one has come forward to help him put a tombstone on his son's grave.

"I have been to Joburg two or three times to speak with people and they always promise me the money, but it never comes. It is disappointing. It is hard for me. Things just haven't been going right. Sometimes I don't even want to visit his grave because it is so embarrassing. I go there to pray and speak to him but I see all the other graves with tombstones and not my son's. It makes me cry."

Sam said that his family was planning a ritual where Senzo's spirit is united with the Meyiwa ancestors, called ihlambo, once the tombstone was done.

Senzo's murderer has not yet been brought to justice and Police Minister Bheki Cele earlier this year instructed National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole to give him a "thorough briefing on whether the new task team is doing a proper job."

Sam said he had not heard from Cele but was confident that an arrest would soon be made.

"I believe that he will find the man that shot and killed my son. It is only a matter of time."

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