On March 31, 2022, Netflix released the official trailer for Senzo: Murder of a Soccer Star, a five-part docu-series. The true-crime documentary series is based on the life and career of great soccer star Senzo Meyiwa, as well as the circumstances surrounding his untimely death, which stunned South Africa and the rest of the globe.
The documentary series digs into the different hypotheses, guesses, and multiple sides of the story that have been put forth in public by journalists and powerful law enforcement officials involved in the murder investigation.
South Africa was shocked to learn of the death of their national soccer team captain on a sad morning in October 2014. The teenage goalie, Senzo Meyiwa, was assassinated during what appeared to be a botched robbery, prompting an intensive investigation.
The numerous twists and ideas that circulated about what happened, on the other hand, just added to the intrigue. ‘Senzo: Murder of a Soccer Star,’ a Netflix original film, focuses on the investigation and allegations surrounding Senzo’s death. So, shall we investigate what transpired?
Must Read: Where is Senzo Meyiwa’s Girlfriend ‘Kelly Khumalo’ Now?
What Caused Senzo Meyiwa’s Death?
Senzo Robert Meyiwa was born in the South African city of Durban. He wanted to be a striker as a kid, but he quickly honed his skills as a goalkeeper. Senzo was playing for Orlando Pirates, a team headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the time of the event. During the African Nations Cup qualifiers, he also played for the national team in seven games, captaining them in four of them.
Senzo had just finished playing for his club in the South African League Cup semi-finals the day before the incident. Senzo was with his fiancée, singer-actress Kelly Khumalo, and a few other friends at her mother’s house on the evening of October 26, 2014.
Two guys allegedly broke into the residence at 8 p.m. in an attempt to loot it, and Senzo was shot during the scuffle. He was shot in the upper torso and was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital. Senzo was initially reported to be 27 years old, but he was later revealed to be 30 years old.
Who Killed Senzo Meyiwa and Why?
Two males allegedly entered the house while a third stood outside, according to the authorities. They were attempting to rob those inside by requesting cellphones and other valuables. Senzo was thought to be protecting Kelly from the attackers at the moment because one of them pointed the gun at her. He was shot, though, and the three assailants bolted as soon as the gun went off. Kelly’s cellphone was the only thing they brought with them.
Authorities issued composite photographs and descriptions of the perpetrators in the days following the crime, and even made an arrest. However, because there was no proof linking him to the murder, he was released shortly after. For many years, the case went unresolved, with many people criticising the police’s handling of Senzo’s death.
There were also a lot of speculations about what happened in the house that night. According to the episode, some people thought there was a coverup and that the people in the house were complicit. However, there is no evidence to back this up. The case remained unsolved until October 2020, when five suspects, Muzi Sibiya, Mthokosizi Maphisa, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Carlos Mncube, and Sifisokuhle Ntuli, appeared in the court.
#Headlines Nearly 8 years since the murder of soccer star Senzo Meyiwa and the defence says they are now ready for trial #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/tKsR0VBpbK
— Newsbreak (@Newsbreak_Lotus) March 28, 2022
Investigators ultimately agreed that Senzo had been the victim of a hit rather than a botched robbery, as the police had previously assumed. The murder weapon was discovered in a police station locker room in Johannesburg.
The alleged mastermind behind the murder has not been apprehended, and the five men have maintained their innocence. Some of them had already been incarcerated for unrelated offences, including violent felonies. The trial will start in April 2022.
