By Ndumiso Mlilo.
South Africa, Johannesburg. (Xinhua) –The South African police have launched a manhunt for the killers of the national football team captain, Senzo Meyiwa (27).
Meyiwa who is also the captain of the South African Premier Soccer League team, Orlando Pirates was shot by unknown gunman on Sunday night at his girlfriend’s house in Johannesburg. On Monday the police Commissioner General, Riah Phiyega briefed the media saying he has established a team to investigate the matter. She said, “A multi-disciplinary task team has been established to investigate the crime. We are appealing sincerely to the public to assist with the case. We believe someone, somewhere, somehow knows something about this crime.”
Gen. Phiyega said they are offering R250 000 (over US$25 000) for anyone who will lead to the arrest and conviction of the killers. She stated that they are not giving preferential treatment to the case because it involves a famous person. He said the complexity of the matter is what guides them. She also said they offer rewards where they think it would be difficult to trace and arrest the accused. Se farther stated, “This type of loss is undesirable for our country and doesn’t bode well for our image. It’s important for us to resolve cases such as this one that have a global appeal. It is important to speed up the investigation… but we deal with a lot of rewards on a daily basis.”
She said two suspects entered Kelly Khumalo, Meyiwa’s singer girlfriend and demanded cellphones. The other one remained outside. The other one shot him when he moved towards the door. The three then fled the scene on foot. The suspects stole a cellphone which was on the charger charging. Phiyega also said, “What we normally look at is the complexity of the matter. Police are not in every house, the community must assist the police.”
The police said there were seven people in the house. He said the police have interviewed the witnesses including Khumalo who gave description of the suspects. Piyega added, “Suspect information so far. Two believed to be in late twenties, one in early thirties. Suspect info (1) tall, slender, dark with dreadlocks (2) short, dark and well built. The suspects fled on foot after the shooting.”
Meanwhile the South African President also sent some condolence messages for the death of the soccer player. In a statement President Zuma said, “We mourn the death of this young footballer and team leader whose life has been taken away at the prime of his career. The law enforcement authorities must leave no stone unturned in finding his killers and bring them to justice. Words cannot express the nation’s shock at this loss.”
The South African national football coach, Shakes Mashaba failed to hold back the tears at a press briefing on Monday morning. The sobbing Mashaba said, “We are going to miss Senzo a lot. Let alone his goal-saving skills, he was a team player, he was everything. He carried the team through the Africa Cup.”
The South African Sports and Recreation Minister, Fikile Mbalula also called on the police to ensure that the killers are brought to book for killing the player. Mabalula said, “Senzo was a national asset. The law enforcement authorities must leave no stone unturned in finding his killers and bring them to justice. Words cannot express the nation’s shock at this loss.”
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