Former Senzo Meyiwa murder accused sends condolences
Zamokuhle Mbatha has expressed his deep grief and has sent his condolences to the family of the late Senzo Meyiwa on the death of Senzo’s father, Sam Meyiwa.
The young former Rastafarian from Vosloorus is suing the SAPS for R10-million for wrongful arrest after he was falsely identified as the “dreadlocked gunman” who shot and killed Senzo on October 26, 2014,
According to family sources, Sam (66) died in his sleep on July 29 at his home in the township of Umlazi, outside Durban. He had been wheelchair-bound since last August after he suffered his first stroke.
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The second stroke occurred in June, which relatives claim left him bed-ridden until his death.
Upon hearing of the death of Senzo’s father, Zamokuhle was overcome with grieve.
“I regarded him as my own father and his death is like I have lost my own father,” said Zamokuhle tearfully.
Zamokuhle told Kathorus MAIL that, at the time, his dreadlock hair had fit the Rastafarian gunman whose description was given to the police by those who were in the house with Senzo at the time of his death. Senzo’s killing was described as a possible botched robbery by a gang of unknown assailants.
Zamokuhle appeared shaken by the news of Sam’s death and explained it has always been his dream to meet Senzo’s father face-to-face.
“I have always wished to expresses my condolences to him and his family for the loss of their son,” explained Zamokuhle, who said he believes Sam may have died of a broken heart.
“I think he was always hopeful that someday the police would find the person or people responsible for the death of his son. I think, as time went by without any results being yielded by the police, it seemed to have dawned on him that all the promises made and time frames set by the SAPS were just empty promises,” explained Zamokuhle. He described his brief arrest and detention by the police as a suspect as the most traumatic experience in his life.
He told Kathorus MAIL that he will support any effort by the police and the public, including the community of Kathorus, to bring the person or people who killed Senzo to justice. He added that even though he was not charged with any crime relating to Senzo’s case, Zamokuhle said such an arrest would also bring him closure.
“It would help me clear my name and be able to feel like a free person.”
He described his life as a shed of misery as he still lives in fear of being attacked by someone who may still believe he is responsible for Senzo’s death. Zamokuhle says this is why he avoids public places where he might be recognised.
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Zamokuhle also lambasted law enforcement and the justice system for what he said was a lack of push in cracking the case and making arrests.
He said the stigma of being the first person to be detained as a suspect in the Senzo case as an indelible stain on his name.
“I am always a walking target because of that and I think it is important that Senzo’s killer or killers are arrested so I can also be free,” Mbatha said.
Meawhile, Sam’s death has drawn overwhelming criticism from people who pointed out that it is time Senzo’s murder is solved.
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“I think the police know who the culprits are in this case, but they lack the drive to bring the killers to book,” added Sam’s neighbour, Steven Phasha.
Steven said promises made to the distraught family by former Police Minister Fikile Mbalula and his successor, Brig Bheki Cele, that Senzo’s killer or killers would be arrested has proven futile. Meanwhile, Brig Vish Naaido was again reported to have told a daily tabloid that Senzo’s case was still under police investigation.
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