The family of the man arrested at the Zimbabwe border in connection with the murder of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa could be in grave danger.
That was the warning from sources close to the investigation after Zanokuhle Mbatha, 25, appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
He was arrested at Beit Bridge in Musina earlier this week after witnesses identified him as being involved in the soccer star’s slaying, which sparked nationwide outrage.
“We fear for the safety of (Mbatha’s family). Their lives could be in danger. We hope that people will be responsible here,” said a source close to the investigation.
Meanwhile, police spokesman Neville Malila said investigators had questioned a number of people since Monday.
“On Friday, after receiving very positive information about a number of suspects, we conducted an identity parade where some of the witnesses identified one person.
“During consultation with the prosecution team, it was decided that this person must be arrested and charged…” he said.
The matter was placed on the court roll in Boksburg, and was heard yesterday afternoon.
Malila said Mbatha, who is from Vosloorus, has been remanded in custody and will appear in court again on November 11.
“While we are pleased with the progress we are making, and the overwhelming support from members of the public, there is still a lot of work to be done to finalise the investigation and ensure that we can link all the suspects to the murder.”
He said Mbatha was “regarded a suspect at the moment”, and “we therefore must allow due process to take its course”.
Meyiwa, who was also the Orlando Pirates captain, was killed when two attackers entered his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s house around 8pm on Sunday.
They apparently demanded cellphones and money. The men fled the scene on foot.
Khumalo, who has disappeared from the public eye, is believed to have remained in Johannesburg and will not attend Meyiwa’s funeral in KwaZulu-Natal today.
Yesterday, Meyiwa fans came out in their droves to attend his memorial service in Durban.
The City Hall was packed, leaving hundreds of mourners outside in the drizzle to watch the memorial on a big screen.
But while speakers focused on Meyiwa’s achievements, some mourners used the occasion to vent their anger against the married Meyiwa’s girlfriend, Khumalo.
People complained on Twitter that there were unruly elements among those attending the memorial.
Nontobeko Sibisi tweeted that people were singing rude songs about Khumalo: “They singing ‘Uyinja uKelly, Uwunodindwa uKelly.’ ‘Kelly is a dog, Kelly is a b****’.”
Last night Khumalo’s friend, Melinda Ferguson, said she would not comment on the arrest. “Kelly is grieving. She has just gone though something so horrible. No person should ever have to go through that. She should just be left alone.”
Meyiwa’s cousin Siyabonga Miya last night said he was glad that police had arrested someone.
Meyiwa’s funeral service takes place today at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.
- Saturday Argus
- Additional reporting by Sapa