By Ndumiso Mlilo
JOHANNESBURG. (News Of The South) – The South African government on Thursday held a memorial service for three athletes who passed away last week saying they had a special place in the history of the country.
The three athletes are, the national football team captain, Senzo Meyiwa who was shot dead at his singer girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo’s house last Sunday. The other one is a welterweight boxer, Phindile Mwelase who fell into comma after a knock out defeat and died after two weeks , last Saturday. The other one is the former world champion 800m track champion, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi who passed away in a car crash last Friday.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) said they would like to build the statue of the departed Meyiwa at their offices. The SAFA president, Danny Jordaan addressing the memorial service said, “We will take those guns to the furnace and build a statue of Senzo Meyiwa. You will decide how big that statue will be. That Senzo Meyiwa will stand in front of Safa house. When you walk in, you must walk past Senzo.”
He stated that they would also launch a Senzo gun law. He said they would encourage people with illegal guns to surrender them.
Dr Jordan described how South Africa would like to hear whistles instead of guns.
Dr Jordaan also revealed that CAF have agreed to move their African Cup of Nations qualifier match against Sudan to a Moses Mabhida stadium near Meyiwa’s home. He added that the team would visit the family and Meyiwa grave before the game to pay their last respects.
The Minister of Sport and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula also addressed the mourners and warned those who killed the national team’s captain that it’s a matter of time before they are arrested.
Mbalula said, “These three athletes served the country to the best of their ability. You can run but you can’t hide. This nation will ever be at ease until we’ve found them and the machinery of justice is grinding. Each one of us has the responsibility because somewhere, somehow, someone knows who killed Senzo Meyiwa.”
He said Meyiwa`s achievements would inspire others to work hard. He said as a nation the incident would also strengthen their resolve to remove the criminals from the streets.
He also praised Mulaudzi who was number one in the world putting South Africa and Africa on the world map.
Dr Jordaan described the upcoming boxer Mwelase as a heroine in her own right.
South Africansfrom boxing, athletics soccer, rugby and other disciplines also praised the fallen stars.
Comments
About Author
