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| Senzo Meyiwa's coffin was given a guard of honour as it was escorted into the stadium |
Tens of thousands of people have attended the funeral of
South African football captain Senzo Meyiwa in Durban.
Meyiwa, 27, was shot on Sunday, apparently after burglars
entered his girlfriend's house near Johannesburg.
A suspect appeared in court on Friday and was charged with
the murder of the popular goalkeeper.
Meyiwa's death shocked South Africa and has highlighted the
high rates of violent crime in the country.
The funeral took place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Meyiwa's
hometown of Durban.
Many of the mourners were wearing T-shirts with a picture of
Meyiwa, who was widely seen as an inspiring figure.
Others wore red or black replica football shirts in the
colours of Meyiwa's team, Orlando Pirates.
Meyiwa's coffin was driven into the stadium, followed by
Orlando Pirates players and officials. Mourners cried as videos were played
showing Meyiwa training and playing football.
At the scene: Tom Burridge, BBC News, Durban
Celebrating Senzo Meyiwa's life was the main theme for the
tens of thousands of fans who packed into the stands. Fans from his team, the
Orlando Pirates, but also from their rivals, the Kaiser Chiefs, sung Senzo's
praises - both his ability on the pitch, and his behaviour off it.
But there were also posters calling for justice for his
killers, and a tougher stance from the South African authorities over
gun-related violence.
Underlying everything was a sense of injustice that one of
Africa's most promising football talents could be killed in such a way. The
chairman of the country's football association said he hoped that this could be
a "turning-point" in the long-running debate over violent crime.
And Senzo Meyiwa's father Sam told me he wanted more random
searches, to cut the number of guns in South Africa. "We are no longer
safe in our houses," he said.
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"The entire nation is crying. We have all lost. Our
condolences to Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana," said Durban Mayor James
Nxumalo, AFP reported, using a nickname for South Africa's national team.
"Our hearts are bleeding."
Flags at half-mast
President Zuma ordered the national flag to be flown at
half-mast on Saturday to honour the goalkeeper.
Following Meyiwa's death, South Africa's domestic football
league postponed this weekend's scheduled Johannesburg derby between Orlando
Pirates and rivals Kaiser Chiefs.
The Durban stadium was also named as the venue for host
South Africa's next Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The funeral of another South African sporting hero, former
800m world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, also took place on Saturday.
Mulaudzi was killed in a car accident the day before
Meyiwa's death.
Police said on Friday that a suspect had been identified in
Meyiwa's killing after an identity parade.
The man, named as Zanokuhle Mbatha, 25, faced charges of
murder and armed robbery at a court hearing and is due to appear again on 11
November. Police had offered a reward for information on the attack.
"There are still other suspects outstanding and we
appeal to the public to continue providing information in support of the
investigation," a police statement said.
