Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead by intruders when trying to protect his girlfriend during a robbery at her home near Johannesburg, officials said on Monday.
The 27-year-old Orlando Pirates goalkeeper died on Sunday after suffering a single shot through the chest at the home of his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo, an actress and singer, in Vosloorus.
“Two guys entered the house and demanded cellphones, money and other valuables,” provincial Community Safety official Sizakele Nkosi-Malubane told reporters at the scene.
“Senzo tried to protect Kelly because one of the men had a gun pointed towards her.”
Police on Sunday said two men entered Khumalo's house at 8pm. A third waited outside the house and all three fled immediately after the shooting.
Meyiwa was declared dead on arrival at hospital, the police added.
Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim Mashaba comforted several of Meyiwa's team mates who arrived at the hospital not long after the shooting.
“We can assure all South Africans that we will do all we can to bring Meyiwa's killers (to) book,” the South African Police Service said on its Twitter account, offering a reward of R150 000. - Reuters