Meyiwa’s dad demands answers

Police commishner Pahlane (left) with Sam Meyiwa in Durban PICTURE BONGANI MBATHA

Police commishner Pahlane (left) with Sam Meyiwa in Durban PICTURE BONGANI MBATHA

Published Jan 10, 2016

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Durban - When Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko came for the traditional Durban beach walkabout by law enforcement leaders on New Year’s Eve among the throngs of beachgoers, there was one man who was not in a festive mood but desperately wanted to meet him.

For the minister it was business as usual. Little did he know that the father of Senzo Meyiwa, the slain Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain, wanted to seize the opportunity under the blistering sun on Thursday, December 31 to meet him and seek answers about the murder of his son more than a year ago.

For the still hurting and sometimes confused father, life could not go on as “normal”.

While the minister and the SAPS top brass gathered outside the police station near North Beach to address the media, Sam Meyiwa was spotted trying to attract their attention.

Just hours before the crowds ushered in the new year, Meyiwa told Independent Media about his desperate attempt to engage the minister’s audience.

His gripe has been that after a year of investigation into his son’s murder, his killer or killers are still at large.

“It really breaks my heart that everyone’s life is going on as normal but my family still has no closure on who killed my son. It seems like the justice system of this country has turned its back on us. So soon, people have forgotten what Senzo did for this country.

“Coming here was my only hope and it rests with Nhleko. But if that does not work, I swear I will do anything to get the truth. I promise I will leave no stone unturned. I am doing this for my son, who died a hero but now he has been forgotten,” Meyiwa said.

But a week later, when Independent Media tried to follow up on the meeting Meyiwa said he had with Nhleko, it turned out that he had spoken to the acting National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Kgomotso Phahlane, who was in full uniform. He realised his mistake and said he had wanted to speak directly with the minister.

“I should have spoken to Nhleko but I missed out on that because I had no clue what he looks like and the fact that he was casually dressed made it worse.”

Although Meyiwa was disappointed, he consoled himself that he had at least managed to speak to the commissioner.

“I spoke to Phahlane personally and he promised to help me in this matter. He said he would put together a strong team of experts to relook into this case,” he said.

Meyiwa said he had also spoken to a Hawks boss, who promised to come down from Joburg. But Meyiwa’s hope was starting to wane.

“We were due to meet three weeks ago but he has several times postponed the meeting without an explanation,” he said.

The police failed to respond to questions from Independent Media forwarded to them on Thursday.

Meyiwa was also disappointed that people who were in the house when Senzo was shot have failed to provide assistance in the probe.

Meyiwa said his life had been threatened because he was fighting for the truth. “They do not want me to ask probing questions about my son’s death,” he said.

Meyiwa accused his son’s childhood friend, Tumelo Dladla, and Senzo’s then girlfriend Kelly Khumalo of getting on with their lives in spite of being at Kelly’s home the day his son was murdered.

“He lives not very far from here but he does not come here anymore.

“There is a veil of secrecy surrounding my son’s death from the people he loved,” he said.

It is today exactly 441 days since Meyiwa was murdered and no one has been apprehended.

The police are still appealing to the public to come forward if they have any information.

Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the perpetrator(s) can contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or SMS Crime Line at 32211. There is a R250 000 reward.

Sunday Tribune

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