Durban - Slain Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa would be laid to rest at Chesterville’s “Heroes Acre” cemetery in an official provincial funeral, the KwaZulu-Natal government confirmed on Wednesday.
It was also confirmed that the funeral would take place on Saturday at the 60 000-seat Moses Mabhida Stadium and not at Meyiwa’s hometown in uMlazi.
Meyiwa died after he was shot during an apparent robbery at the Vosloorus home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, on Sunday night.
Premier Senzo Mchunu’s spokesman, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, said funeral arrangements were still being finalised and a meeting would be held on Thursday to discuss logistics with the stadium management.
Social Development MEC, Weziwe Thusi, and Sports MEC, Ntombikayise Sabhida-Saphetha, spent much of on Wednesday at the Meyiwa family home.
They had already visited the family to pay their respects earlier this week, and it is believed they were there discussing the funeral arrangements.
The premier’s chief of staff, Mbuyiseni Mathonsi, was also there.
The funeral for the uMlazi-born soccer star was originally to have been held in the township’s King Zwelithini Stadium.
The Meyiwa family spokesman, Siyabonga Miya, said there would now be a free train service from uMlazi on Saturday leaving at 8am for the funeral.
Two memorial services have been planned for the goalkeeper – one on Thursday at the community grounds at L-Section uMlazi, organised by his friends and former teammates from his London Cosmos days.
Memorial
A huge tent – which can accommodate thousands – has already been set up at the football grounds for the memorial which was expected to start at 1pm.
The second memorial service, hosted by the provincial government, would take place tomorrow at 12pm at the Durban City Hall.
A memorial service will also be held at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg on Thursday by the SA Football Association to pay tribute to Meyiwa and South Africa’s other fallen sporting stars, KZN female professional boxer, Phindile Mwelase, and Olympic silver medalist, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, who died in recent days.
Meanwhile, the Premier Soccer League fixture between AmaZulu FC and Mpumalanga Black Aces, which was set to take place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, has been moved to Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu to accommodate the thousands of fans expected to descend to pay their final respects.
It is believed that apart from Meyiwa’s Pirates teammates, rivals from the Kaizer Chiefs FC will also be attending the funeral.
The Soweto derby which was due to take place on Saturday has been postponed to allow players to pay their final respects.
This was the only game in the PSL fixture postponed this weekend.
AmaZulu FC said tickets bought for the original venue could still be used at the KwaMashu stadium.
Daily News