| Intro | South African professional footballer |
| A.K.A. | Senzo Robert Meyiwa |
| Was |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
| From | South Africa |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 24 September 1987, Durban, eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Death |
26 October 2014, Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa (aged 27 years) |
| Star sign | Libra |
Senzo Robert Meyiwa (24 January 1984 – 26 October 2014) was a South African footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Orlando Pirates in the Premier Soccer League, and for the South Africa national team. He was shot and killed in a robbery on 26 October 2014.
International career
Meyiwa made his debut for South Africa on 2 June 2013 in a 2–0 away victory against Lesotho. He was included in the South African squad led by manager Gordon Igesund for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, but made no appearances. For the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, he played three times, with his last match being a 0–0 draw against Congo on 15 October 2014. He earned a total of seven international caps.
Death
On 26 October 2014, Meyiwa was shot and killed in Vosloorus during a robbery at the home of his girlfriend, actress and singer Kelly Khumalo. He was declared dead on arrival at hospital in Johannesburg. Three people were believed to have been involved in the shooting, and police released composite images of two suspects. One suspect, Zanokuhle Mbatha, was arrested on 31 October and appeared in court, but he was freed on 11 November due to lack of evidence. Meyiwa’s death sparked outrage over the country’s high crime and murder rates.
As a mark of respect, the Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, due to be played on 1 November, was postponed. President Jacob Zuma mourned the loss and called for Meyiwa’s killers to be found. FIFA president Sepp Blatter called Meyiwa’s death a “senseless, tragic loss.” Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas posted a picture on Instagram of Meyiwa holding Casillas’ Real Madrid jersey that was exchanged when Spain played South Africa in an international friendly.
Meyiwa was laid to rest in Chesterville, KwaZulu-Natal. During the funeral at Moses Mabhida Stadium, his father, Samuel, was photographed greeting the crowd in attendance by leaning out his car window with his arms outstretched, which sparked an internet trend.
Age controversy
In November 2014, it was reported that Meyiwa had apparently lied about his real age throughout his professional career. According to his tombstone and the school register, he was born on 24 January 1984, making him thirty years old, and not 27, at the time of his death.