Senzo Meyiwa’s father Sam Meyiwa has died at the age of 66 following complications arising from a second stroke. Image: Rogan Ward/ Sunday Times.

On Monday, July 29, 2019, South Africans woke up to the shocking and sad news of the death of Samuel Meyiwa (66), the father of slain Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.

It is reported that Meyiwa senior died around 3am at his uMlazi home in Durban after suffering a second stroke. This comes after he suffered a major stroke in August last year. Since then he had been wheelchair-bound, moving in and out of hospital.

It is suspected that Meyiwa’s health was negatively affected by the shooting to death of his son five years ago and the unsolved case surrounding the incident. According to his family, Meyiwa’s health started deteriorating in 2014 after Senzo was shot dead at his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s home in Vosloorus in what witnesses described as a botched robbery.

Sam Meyiwa was thrust into the spotlight following Senzo’s death due to his vocalness about his bereavement. He often expressed his disappointment at the police’s failure to find his son’s killers. While there have been reports of “imminent arrests” in the recent past, no arrests have been made.

In January this year, in an interview with eNCA, Police Minister Bheki Cele said the matter would “definitely” be resolved before Christmas. “Definitely it will be before Christmas, even before Easter that matter will have to be resolved,” he said.

Since the news of Sam Meyiwa’s death broke, condolence messages have been pouring in nonstop on social media. While there is still a spark of hope that Senzo’s killer(s) may be brought to justice one day, many people are saddened by the fact that Sam died without finding closure on his son’s death.

Below are some of the tributes from Twitter:

It saddens me to learn about the passing of Ntate Sam Meyiwa. It’s unfortunate that he had to pass on before justice was served in the murder case of his son, Senzo Meyiwa.

I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.#RIPSamMeyiwa https://t.co/Oqe3W0In4n

— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) July 29, 2019

#RIPSamMeyiwa#SamMeyiwa

Mr Sam Meyiwa has passed on.

The most saddest thing is that to date, killers of his son have not been brought to justice! pic.twitter.com/NaKKGgFlac

— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) July 29, 2019

The greatest shame is that #SamMeyiwa has died and still there is no justice for Senzo Meyiwa – almost 5 years later. How many ministers and police commissioners have we had in that period? 😞#RIPSamMeyiwa pic.twitter.com/O3tSncXwrE

— Ole Sihle Mlambo ✍🏿️ (@SihleSays) July 29, 2019

SHAME ON YOU #senzomeyiwa’s father Sam has died wih his son’s killer still on the loose. @SAPoliceService @MbalulaFikile #bhekicele promised this would not happen. Where is the justice? If you can’t find #senzo’s murderer with five high-profile eye-witnesses WHO CAN YOU FIND? pic.twitter.com/Dnoab0o2u8

— Neal Collins (@nealcol) July 29, 2019