Durban - Kelly Khumalo, the controversial pop musician girlfriend of slain Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper and captain Senzo Meyiwa, has opened up to the nation about his death, a year after the tragic shooting.
But the goalkeeper’s father, Sam Meyiwa, is having none of it, and is adamant that Khumalo “knows exactly” who killed his son. Meyiwa sr blamed Khumalo’s “destructive past” for his son’s death. The Meyiwas never approved of the couple’s relationship.
Senzo was shot and killed at Khumalo’s Vosloorus home in a suspected robbery in October last year. A suspect was arrested a few days later but was released because of insufficient evidence. No arrests have been made since.
Meanwhile, a small group of family friends, including Senzo’s wife Mandisa and his two children, visited his grave in Chesterville on Monday and sang gospel songs while dancing in celebratory mood. A prayer session was later held at the Meyiwa home in uMlazi.
In a 735- word Tumblr blog post, Khumalo wrote: “I was too heartbroken to say this then, but I am so sorry for your loss South Africa. I know that there will never be anyone else like him. I hope that you never forget him, as I know that I never could.”
In the post Khumalo said the two shared an “indestructible bond”.
Khumalo wrote: “He took my whole world with him.
“They say that time heals … Time heals curable things. I know that I will never let go of him, and that’s because I don’t want to. But time has healed some of the things.”
She said Meyiwa was “more than just a lover to me; he was a part of me”.
“The bond we shared, its indestructibility scared me. I always thought to myself, what kind of love is this that I have for this man? And you know that I have been heartbroken and disappointed before, so I was no longer good at being gullible. It turned out I didn’t need to be naive to love him. Because love doesn’t need that. We saw each other, knew each other and loved each other as we were. We made love and named her Thingo. And even in his absence, Love still resembles him in an almost creepy way. I will always be grateful to him for her and for everything we shared. The love that we shared made a woman out of me,” the post read.
She described Meyiwa as the “love of my life” and ended the post with the words: “May his soul continue to rest in peace. With floods of love, Kelly Khumalo.”
Meyiwa sr was incensed by Khumalo’s posting, accusing her of being an “attention seeker”.
“Kelly is unnecessarily getting herself involved and continues to mess things up. She’s a home wrecker. She has destroyed my family. She destroyed Senzo, his plans. He was preparing to get married,” he told The Mercury on Monday.
“She was just one of Senzo’s girlfriends. How is it that all the rest are quiet but she keeps running her mouth? The only person who has a right to have an opinion of Senzo is his wife, Mandisa.
“They are not arresting her (Kelly) when she knows exactly who killed Senzo.”
He said he had not given up hope that his son’s killers would one day be arrested and brought to book.
“Police are yet to feel my wrath.
“They will find Senzo’s killers.”
He said being inundated with well-wishing messages had brought an avalanche of memories of last year.
He said he last heard from the police about four months ago and accused them of “receiving bribes”.
“I just miss how well-behaved and respectful he was. Senzo was forever happy – wanted everyone to be laughing and smiling. Every time he came home, he would bring nothing but joy; brought gifts,” he said.
Asked about the unkempt state of Senzo’s grave, he said the family was in the process of organising a cultural post-burial ceremony.
“We are not really in a rush. We are in preparations right now because we want to have a decent memorial – fit for the king that he was.”
This week police said they had taken more than 100 statements and questioned more than 30 people in relation to Meyiwa’s death.
SAPS spokesman Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale said they had followed many leads, including anonymous calls, but were no closer to finding those responsible for his death.
The Mercury
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