Durban - The office of Public Protestor Thuli Madonsela is considering an investigation into the way police have handled the murder case of Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.
Public protector spokesman Oupa Segalwe said the family asked two weeks ago for an investigation of the police’s delay in finalising the case and the lack of progress by the Vosloorus police.
Meyiwa was murdered at his music star girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s home in Vosloorus in October last year.
It has been reported that Meyiwa was shot in the presence of Khumalo’s mother, Ntombi, Khumalo's sister Zandi, Chicco Twala’s son Longwe, and Meyiwa’s friends from Durban, Tumelo Madlala and Mthokozisi Twala.
The police’s investigation initially led to the arrest of Zamokuhle Mbatha for the murder. He was later released without being charged and said that he was suing the police.
Segalwe said the public protector would not be involved in the actual investigation of the murder, which is now being handled by the Hawks. He said the public protector had no authority to investigate murder if it was not connected to corruption.
In Meyiwa’s home in Umlazi, south of Durban, the Meyiwas are still devastated. His elder brother Sifiso said the family turned to Madonsela because they could not bare the pain of not knowing who killed Meyiwa, and why.
“We approached the public protector because we felt that the investigation was dragging, and we wanted her to assist wherever she can,” he said.
Sifiso said the family was hurt by the police delay “because this matter does not go away”.
“It would be better if we knew that the case is over and the person or people responsible for the murder have been arrested,” Sifiso said.
However, he said the family had hoped that the involvement of the Hawks would lead to its finalisation.
“The Hawks contact my father, and they often contact him. We trust the Hawks because every time they are involved in the matter there are results,” he said.
The Mercury