Birthplace : Umlazi KZN
Born: 24 January 1984
Died: 26 October 2014
“From all of us we want to thank South Africa for the love - on social media, radio, TV. We appreciate your support for @BafanaBafana. We play for you.” – Senzo Meyiwa
Senzo Robert Meyiwa was born to Sam and Ntombifuthi Meyiwa.
Meyiwa’s professional soccer career began in 2002 when he joined Orlando Pirates’ youth structures as goalkeeper. He ended up playing 137 games for Bucs’ senior team.
Meyiwa represented South Africa at Under 17, Under 20 and Under 23 levels before being called up to represent Bafana Bafana in 2013 in a game against Lesotho (Bafana won 2-0).
Meyiwa was promoted to national team captain when coach Shakes Mashaba took over as coach in 2013. Senzo Meyiwa captained Bafana Bafana for the first time in an away game against Sudan, which Bafana won 3-0.
He married Mandisa Mkhize in a traditional wedding in 2013, but within a year singer Kelly Khumalo had become his lover. He had one daughter with each woman.
On 26 October 2014, Meyiwa was shot and killed in Khumalo’s home in Vosloorus, east of Joburg. Meyiwa’s killer or killers have not been arrested to this day.
Meyiwa was laid to rest on 1 November 2014 in Chesterville, Durban in a state funeral in front of a crowd of about 30 000 heartbroken fans.
