The former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star, Meyiwa was killed almost two and a half years ago under mysterious circumstances on the night of October 26, 2014.
He was shot dead by armed intruders at the home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, in Vosloorus. A number of guests, among them Meyiwa, were having dinner with the Khumalo family when the attack occurred.
Investigators initially believed it to be a botched house burglary. However, the case has dragged on for the past 16 months, despite it being on the national police’s priority list.
“I think the Meyiwa family have finally taken the right decision by approaching the Public Protector for assistance,” said a visibly excited Thami Nkabinde from the adjacent suburb of Spruitview.
The weekly newspaper City Press reported that unnamed members of the distraught Meyiwa family have sought the help of the Office of the Public Protector to help them investigate Senzo’s death. The claim was confirmed in the newspaper by Oupa Segwale, spokesperson for the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela.
“They (the Meyiwa family) allege undue delays and lack of progress in the investigations handled by the police officers in Vosloorus,” Segwale reportedly said. He confirmed the Public Protector’s office’s receipt of the Meyiwa family’s request for assistance in the case.
In the City Press, Segwale is quoted as saying the Office of the Pubic Protector has not yet taken up the case as “assessment processes are still under way”.
“What else do you expect the family to do after they have been kept waiting for the outcome of the investigation since October 2014 after their son was killed,” said Mma Serame Tlokoane, a retired nursing sister from Spruitview. “I would have definitely done the same,” she added.
Meanwhile, a team of forensic experts from the Hawks is also reported to have revisited the crime scene and spoke to Kelly Khumalo as well as to the witnesses who were with the family on the night Meyiwa was killed.
“I think it is about time something dramatic is done by the police about this case,” said Karabo Mokoena of Ponong.
“Maybe this time their investigations will yield positive results.”
