By Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko
Words cannot describe the anger and pain I felt when I heard about the death of Senzo Meyiwa. His death at the hands of callous murderers has robbed his family of a humble father and our nation of a rising sports star.
It is sobering to think that only a few weeks before his untimely death, Senzo Meyiwa captained Bafana Bafana in the crucial African Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo.
At a time like this, sport fades into insignificance; what matters now is our collective grief and the search for answers.
Meyiwa’s death has robbed our nation of a hero, for he was the embodiment of all that is good about our country, particularly in his sport excellence. We are terribly saddened by his death, yet stand heartened that all South Africans are united in their condemnation and outrage at the senseless of it.
We are confident that the South African Police Service (SAPS) will not rest until those who are responsible face the full might of the law. The task team set up by National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega is following several leads already and will not rest until his killers are brought to book.
The tributes for him that have flooded social media give us courage and strength at this time of great sorrow. He is no longer with us, but his legend lives on in the hearts, minds and memories of all who had the privilege to watch him play.
Senzo Meyiwa was a rare talent whose ability and big match temperament set him apart. The news of his death reverberated all over the world, with the great Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, tweeting:
“RIP Senzo Meyiwa, the South African captain who was tragically shot dead earlier today. My prayers go to his family. You’ll never walk alone!!” Unbeknownst to many of us, he was already our ambassador, carrying the flag high for the country he served with distinction.
President Jacob Zuma echoed the mood of the nation on the news of Meyiwa’s death saying: “We mourn the death of this young footballer and team leader whose life has been taken away at the prime of his career. The law enforcement authorities must leave no stone unturned in finding his killers and bring them to justice. Words cannot express the nation's shock at this loss.”
The government is aware that words alone at a time like this are not enough. The calls for action by the nation have not fallen on deaf ears.
Safety is a fundamental human right and we continue to work towards a society where people are and feel safe. The National Development Plan, our country’s vision for 2030, emphases the importance of a safe South Africa.
Fighting crime remains one of the priorities of government and the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to make this vision a reality.
Countrywide, there are thousands of policemen and women who serve with dedication and pride to make our nation safer. They are the frontline of our fight against crime and our last line of defence against anarchy and lawlessness.
The government takes this opportunity to reassure all South Africans that we are doing all we can to make our nation safer. In the coming period, the visibility and number of police officers throughout the country will be beefed up to ensure the safety of all South Africans during the festive season.
For this campaign, we are focusing on the following: aggravated and armed robberies; firearms, liquor, second-hand goods and safety at sports and recreational events; crimes against women and children; tracking and tracing wanted suspects; road safety enforcement and border security.
But we can’t do this alone. Let us all join the fight; someone, somewhere knows that a crime is being committed and who the perpetrators are. We can’t afford to turn a blind eye anymore. Instead, we need to be the eyes and ears of the SAPS. Choosing to ignore crime is not no choice at all. Criminals can only thrive in communities where crimes go unreported.
We dare not let the criminals win. We dare not let Meyiwa’s tragic death be in vain.
The government calls on all South Africans to channel the outrage we feel and make our nation safer.
His magnificent sporting feats for both his club and country are among the true hallmarks of what makes our nation great. We will never allow this to be defined by the actions of a shameful few.
