×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Irvin Khoza loses it at Senzo funeral

General view of the coffin during the funeral service of the late Senzo Meyiwa at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Picture Credit: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images
General view of the coffin during the funeral service of the late Senzo Meyiwa at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Picture Credit: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images

ORLANDO Pirates boss Irvin Khoza threw a tantrum at the funeral of his club’s captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa when priests bungled state protocol.

Khoza was angered by players of Pirates’ archrivals Kaizer Chiefs who went to pay their respects at the Heroes Acre in Chesterville just after Meyiwa’s family.

The players were led by injured club captain and Meyiwa’s close friend Itumeleng Khune.

This prompted Khoza to walk across the tent in which the family and other dignitaries were sitting to the pastors presiding over the service and angrily point out the bungle, which meant that Chiefs players went ahead of Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula, KwaZulu-Natal premier Senzo Mchunu, eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo, SA Football Association president Danny Jordaan and Mamelodi Sundowns’ billionaire owner Patrice Motsepe.

The pastors quickly apologised and asked the players to stop and allow the politicians to lead the way in paying respects.

Meyiwa’s funeral was declared a provincial official funeral, meaning the KwaZulu-Natal contributed to the organising of the soccer star’s send-off.

Earlier on Saturday, thousands of soccer fans braved the gentle rain to attend Meyiwa’s funeral service at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe’s eulogy was disrupted by unruly soccer fans, who sang throughout most of his long speech.

Other speakers included Mchunu, Jordaan and Khoza, who admonished the rowdy crowd for singing during the flighting of a tribute video featuring an interview with Meyiwa and a slideshow of some of his career highlights on the big screen.

Kaizer Chiefs boss Kaizer Motaung spoke on behalf of the Premier Soccer League, which honoured Meyiwa by cancelling all matches scheduled for the weekend.

Meanwhile Meyiwa’s aunt Thandi Mhlongo told mourners that her nephew was preparing to have a white wedding when he was shot dead last Sunday. She would not reveal the identity of the bride.

However, it is known that Meyiwa paid lobola for Mandisa Mkhize, the mother of his two daughters, and was in a relationship with singer Kelly Khumalo with whom he has a daughter.

Meyiwa’s parents were not happy about their 27-year-old son’s troubled and highly publicised extramarital affair with Khumalo at whose Vosloorus home he was shot dead.

Mhlongo also revealed that Meyiwa’s close friend and rival for the Bafana Bafana number one jersey Khune would have been the best man at his wedding.

Khumalo told Sunday Times yesterday that Meyiwa planned to marry her.

Mhlongo further spoke about how her nephew was ill-treated by a top official of Orlando Pirates. She told shocked mourners on Thursday that Meyiwa had confided in family elders during a ceremony that among the four things he wished for was ending the ill-treatment.

She said Meyiwa also complained bitterly about one of his teammates but would not reveal the player’s identity. She also mentioned that Meyiwa refused to leave Pirates after he was approached by Motsepe.

This article was originally published in the Sowetan newspaper on 3 November 2014.

Note: Sowetan stands by this story

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.