It was exactly ten years ago on this day when Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa, was gunned down at his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo's home in the Vosloorus, in the East Rand. Meyiwa, who died at the age of 30, was at the peak of his career and was a captain of both the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana.

INTERNATIONAL INTEREST

He was killed in an apparent robbery when intruders allegedly stormed the house he was in and fired shots at him at around 8 pm on a Sunday in the presence of Kelly, her two kids, Christian and Thingo, her mother Ntombi, sister Zandie Khumalo, child star Longwe Twala, and Meyiwa's best friend Tumelo Madlala. International news outlets such as the Guardian and BBC reported on the matter after the case moved at a snail's pace. His fans were left reeling after his murder.

HIS FATHER DIED SEEKING JUSTICE

Meyiwa's father, Sam Meyiwa, said at the time that the justice system had failed him and was eagerly seeking justice for his son. He had a fallout with Kelly, accusing her of having a hand in the death of his son. He died at the age of 67 at a hospital in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, after suffering a second stroke in 2019. It was reported that Sam's health deteriorated as no one was held accountable for his son's death. In one of the media interviews in 2017, Sam said: "I am so tired; I am slowly losing hope. My son was someone who was loved in South Africa and across the world. Nothing is happening regarding Senzo's things; everything, even the investigation into his death, is on hold."

THE SUSPECTS

The case dragged on unsolved and was reportedly closed at some point, but police persisted until they arrested five men six years after his murder. The accused Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli are charged with premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of firearms without a licence and possession of ammunition. They have all pleaded not guilty.

A HIT? 

Earlier this year, it also emerged in court singer Kelly Khumalo allegedly paid R100 000 for Meyiwa to be killed. This was revealed from two of the five accused's confession statements. In his confession, Ntanzi who was working at a mine at the time of the murder, said he received a call from a friend who was with accused number 3 Maphisa, who told him that there was an urgent job that needed to be done urgently and that they needed him as his assistant. He agreed to help and decided to travel to Johannesburg, where he went to Vosloorus Men's Hostel.

Ntanzi said he met Sibiya, Sifiso Zungu, another accused, Fisokuhle Ntuli, Carlos Buthelezi, and Maphisa at the hostel. "I was briefed that the person to be killed was Senzo Meyiwa, and the hit was initiated by Kelly Khumalo, who was going to make a payment for the job," the confession statement read. In Sibiya's statement, he said he received a call from his friends Marco and Makhimbi Buthelezi, his friends from Vosloorus Men's Hostel, who later came to him saying there was a job to kill Meyiwa and that the hit was ordered by Kelly Khumalo. Sibiya was told by the two friends that they charged Kelly R100 000 for the job. Meanwhile, the trial was postponed earlier this week to Monday after one of the defence lawyers, Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, fell ill. Brigadier Bongani Gininda, who is the lead investigator in the case, is expected to continue his testimony.