[ad_1]
Police Minister Bheki Cele
- Police Minister Bheki Cele visited the family of murdered soccer star Senzo Meyiwa within hours of announcing a breakthrough in the murder case.
- He said the motive for the murder may have been greater than had been understood so far.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated the police on the advance.
“We believe that Senzo’s death [Meyiwa] it could have been bigger than has been understood all along. “
These were the words of the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, on Monday night, when he visited the family of the murdered footballer just hours after announcing five arrests in what until now was considered a cold case.
After her press conference in Gauteng earlier that day, Cele arrived in Umlazi, south of Durban, shortly before 7:00 p.m. and was greeted by a large crowd at the Meyiwa family home in Section K.
Despite the torrential rains, most of the women and children sang ecstatically for the police minister, who kindly waved to them.
Neighbors gathered at the family home and praised Cele, who entered the premises with the positive news that five of Meyiwa’s alleged killers had been arrested.
He was rushed to the house, where he had a private meeting with various family members, including Siyabonga Meyiwa, Senzo’s brother.
After the meeting, he told the media that his investigation had not actually confirmed that it was a robbery gone wrong, but it had not conclusively proven that it was a success either.
In an earlier briefing, Gerrie Nel, head of AfriForum’s private prosecution unit, said they believed it was a murder, adding that the police investigation had not answered the question of who the mastermind was.
The Meyiwa family turned to AfriForum last year after feeling that the National Tax Authority (NPA) had made no progress.
The family members are expected to travel to Boksburg, Gauteng in the morning where, for the first time, they will confront the suspected killers at the pier.
It would have been a day that Senzo’s father Sam would have hoped to see, but he died of a stroke last year while fighting for justice for his son.
Cele said that the last time she visited Umlazi’s home, both Senzo’s mother and father were present.
‘We congratulate the police for their hard work’
The last time he saw the family was at Sam’s funeral. He said they promised not to throw in the towel.
In a statement late Monday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated police on the advance and the arrests.
“Today is a day when we review the sadness that affected millions of us as South Africans when we lost Senzo Meyiwa in 2014.
“But this anniversary is mitigated by the arrest of five suspects who have not been able to escape the reach of the law, regardless of the passage of time.”
He said:
We congratulate the police for their hard work and perseverance. Now we must allow the criminal justice system and the judiciary to do their job and deal with this matter definitively.
Senzo Meyiwa was shot and killed at the home of his actress girlfriend Kelly Khumalo exactly six years ago on Monday.
– Additional reporting by Jenna Etheridge
Did you know that you can comment on this article? Subscribe to News24 and add your voice to the conversation.
