The death of Orlando Pirates’ goalkeeper and national team captain, Senzo Meyiwa, has united the nation in mourning his death.
It has also seen the speedy and expertise of the police in combing a crime scene in search for evidence.
The unity, as has been espoused by soccer bosses, both Dr Irvine Khoza and his counterpart at Kaizer Chiefs, Kaizer Motaung himself, was astounding.
It reflected a real African community in mourning for the death of not a rival, but a son of the soil who served his country with much aplomb until his untimely death at the hands of ruthless criminals that continue to roam our country.
Politicians, too, came out in support and all called for the speedy arrest of the perpetrators, thereof.
Some even called for the renaming of the Mangosuthu Freeway in Durban as the Senzo Meyiwa freeway – funny enough, that was the suggestion of the NFP, a splinter group of the IFP, who unnoticingly or deliberately fuelling conflict with their former party if the name were to be changed and may cause another bloodshed.
Can’t they think of anything else that could be named in honour of Meyiwa other than that one?
In the midst of this shocking national loss, yours truly had a rethink of how our police investigations into cases are measured in terms of one’s standing in society.
No sooner had the death been announced than a handsome reward of R250 000 being offered by the police for information that would assist in apprehending the killers.
It was a good gesture though, at the given time and circumstances, but the same gesture could be exercised on a daily basis where ordinary folk are dealt bitter blows, and no emergency is focused on them nor is their pain considered.
I think it has dawned on the police and the authorities that crime in the country is a reality and needs very special focus to eradicate it, otherwise, we will be experiencing more of such incidents of senseless killing of people in our midst.
In the name of Senzo Meyiwa, may it dawn on the security personnel, that their job is to protect the lives of all South Africans, irrespective of race, color or creed and status – they should, on a daily basis before they embark on their duties, reflect on what matters most is the protection of all human beings at their disposal.
Even Soweto’s Pastor Mboro, who offered R20 000 reward for the apprehension of the suspects, should know that before the eyes of God the Creator, all people are equal and such rewards should be availed to all and sundry.
