Zuma: Official funerals for Meyiwa, Mulaudzi

Published Oct 31, 2014

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Johannesburg - Slain Bafana Bafana captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa and Olympic medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi will receive official provincial funerals, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.

“The two sports stars have represented the nation exceptionally well in national and international sporting engagements, generating immense national pride and unity,” spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement.

Zuma ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast in KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo on Saturday, the day of the two funerals.

Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe would give a eulogy at the Meyiwa funeral and Public Service and Administration Minister Collins Chabane would deliver one at the Mulaudzi funeral. He would be accompanied by Gauteng premier David Makhura.

The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) said on Thursday it would provide free transport to those attending the funerals and burials of three sports stars who died recently.

Meyiwa, who was also the Orlando Pirates captain, was shot dead in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, while visiting his girlfriend, singer and actress Kelly Khumalo, on Sunday night.

On Saturday, female professional boxer Phindile Mwelase died after being in a coma for two weeks.

The 31-year-old light-welterweight boxer slipped into a coma after being knocked out in a fight against Liz Butler in Pretoria on October 10.

Former Olympic athlete Mulaudzi was killed in a car crash last Friday. He was an 800m Athens 2004 Olympics silver medallist and a Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

Ten buses and two trains were made available for Orlando Pirates fans to travel to KwaZulu-Natal from Gauteng to attend Meyiwa's funeral.

In KwaZulu-Natal, fans could travel by train to Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“The trains will transport the fans from all corridors in the province to and from the stadium,” Prasa said.

For Mulaudzi's funeral 10 buses would transport mourners from the Braamfontein Recreational Centre in Johannesburg, Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria, and Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Four buses were set aside for mourners attending Mwelase's funeral in Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal.

Two would depart from the Nasrec Boxing Arena in Johannesburg, one from Alice Road in Durban, and another one from Watersmeet Village in Ladysmith, Mwelase's hometown. - Sapa

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