The captain of South Africa’s national football team was shot dead in his homeland last night.
Goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, 27, was gunned down after trying to stand up to a gang who raided his girlfriend’s home.
Meyiwa had captained Bafana Bafana in their last four matches in the African Nations Cup qualifiers without conceding a goal.
The
Orland Pirates stopper was shot dead less than 24 hours after playing
for the Buccaneers in their 4-1 win over Ajax Cape Town.
Police confirmed the news via Twitter
with a statement that read: "We can confirm that Bucs keeper Senzo
Meyiwa has been shot and sadly declared dead on arrival at hospital."
Officers
said Meyiwa was shot at a house - believed to be his girlfriend's - in
the township of Vosloorus, 20 miles south of Johannesburg, at around
8pm.
The gang arrived demanding Meyiwa’s mobile phone, according
to one report. The 27-year-old was declared dead on arrival at hospital.
The
force said no one else in the house was injured but appealed for calm
from “upset & hurt pple at the house where incident occurred and at
hospital”.
Police said there had been an “altercation” before the star keeper was shot after two people entered the home at around 8pm.
Getty
In action: Wayne Rooney and Senzo Meyiwa shake hands after a friendly game
Another tweet read: “Update: there were 7 people inside the
house. Two suspects went into the house, one remained outside. The 3
fled on foot after the shooting.”
They had initially reported that seven people entered the house, but revised the figure down in a later update.
Police vowed: “We can assure all South Africans that we will do all can to bring Meyiwa’s killers book...”
Police offered a reward of 150,000 rand (£8,500) for any information leading to an arrest.
Violent
gun crime in South Africa has been highlighted by the trial of
Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius, who was found guilty of shooting dead
his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and jailed for five years last week.
More
than 17,000 people were murdered in South Africa between April 2013 and
March 2014, an increase of about 800 over the previous year, according
to police figures.
Wayne Rooney swapped shirts with Meyiwa in 2008
when Manchester United played in a pre-season tournament, the South
African Vodacom Challenge.
Meyiwa had been in excellent form the
Bafana Bafana in recent months, figuring in four Africa Cup of Nations
qualifiers without conceding a goal.
In the absence of first choice keeper Itumeleng Khune, he had also captained the side.
Orlando Pirates will give a press conference on Monday to react further to the news.
Tributes flooded in on Twitter.
Tributes are already flooding in on Twitter tonight.
Meyiwa's international team-mate, Doncaster Rovers midfielder Dean
Furman, tweeted: "Beyond devastated at the loss of our captain &
friend Senzo Meyiwa. thoughts & prayers are with his family &
friends at this terrible time."
11:00 pm
This captures the sense of disbelief about tonight's events:
11:01 pm
Reaction from Meyiwa's club
Meyiwa’s team the Orlando Pirates tweeted: “The @Orlando-Pirates
family has learned with sadness of the untimely death of our number 1
keeper & captain Senzo Meyiwa.”
Club chairman Dr Irvin Khoza
added: “This is a sad loss to Senzo’s family especially his children, to
Orlando Pirates & the nation.”
11:12 pm
One of many Twitter tributes to Senzo Meyiwa:
11:25 pm
Orlando Pirates will give a press conference on Monday to react further to the news.
The club, for whom Meyiwa made his debut in 2005, issued an early statement via Twitter tonight.
12:03 am
Schalke 04 and Ghana international Kevin Prince-Boateng, who played
in England for Tottenham and Portsmouth, has spoken of his shock.
12:28 am
South African team-mate Andile Jali, who plays for Oostende in Belgium, reacted with horror at the unfolding news.
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