S. Africa launches major manhunt for killers of Senzo Meyiwa

South African police on Monday launched a massive operation to find the killers of the national football team captain who was fatally shot during an apparent house robbery, underscoring the country’s high rate of violent crime. Goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was killed around 8 p.m. Sunday after two gunmen entered a house he was visiting in Vosloorus township near Johannesburg while an accomplice waited outside, police said. The 27-year-old Meyiwa was shot in the upper body while trying to protect his girlfriend, national police commissioner Gen. Riah Phiyega said at a news conference announcing the manhunt for the three suspects.

Most of the time, these things come when you least expect … We’re going to miss Senzo a lot … never mind his saving goals.

Ephraim Mashaba, South Africa national football team coach

Police also raised the reward to nearly $23,000, hoping to get more information to find Meyiwa’s killers. South Africa has a high rate of violent crime, an issue that was raised during the recent trial of Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius, who claimed he shot and killed his girlfriend by accident in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14, 2013, after mistaking her for a dangerous intruder in his home. National soccer team coach Ephraim Mashaba wiped away tears at a news conference in Johannesburg early Monday as he spoke about Meyiwa, who had recently been made South Africa captain and led the team in four African Cup of Nations qualifiers this year. He hadn’t conceded a goal in the four games.

As they were running away we tried to stop them and that is when they shot him at point-blank range.

Tumelo Waka Madlala, friend

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