South African football captain Senzo Meyiwa shot dead

Police said that Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead while protecting his on-off girlfriend Kelly Khumalo.

16:59 27 October 2014

South African football captain Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead in Johannesburg on Sunday night as he tried to protect his on-off girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, from burglars, it has now been revealed.

Meyiwa, 27, with Khumalo, a South African pop star, when burglars entered her home. The athlete, according to the reports, was shot dead after one of the burglars pointed a gun at Miss Khumalo.

Provincial Community Safety official Sizakele Nkosi-Malubane said: 'Two guys entered the house and demanded cellphones, money and other valuables.”

'Senzo tried to protect Kelly because one of the men had a gun pointed towards her’

Later, the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed via Twitter that Meyiwa was killed. They wrote: 'We can confirm that Bucs (Pirates) keeper Senzo Meyiwa has been shot and sadly declared dead on arrival at hospital.”

Meanwhile, his club said has released a statement saying: 'The Orlando Pirates family has learned with sadness of the untimely death of our number 1 keeper & captain Senzo Meyiwa.’

'This is a sad loss to Senzo's family especially his children, to Orlando Pirates & the nation', said Chairman Dr Irvin Khoza.