South African rugby star Lindani Myeni (29) dies after being shot 4 times by police in Hawaii

LAW enforcement agencies must assist the family of slain eSikhaleni rugby star Lindani Myeni (29) to get to the bottom of Lindani’s killing at the hands of Hawaiian police last week.

That was the impassioned plea of uMhlathuze mayor, Cllr Mduduzi Mhlongo during a visit to the family home on Wednesday to convey the city’s condolences and to further engage on preparations for the repatriation of Lindani’s body for his funeral.

Myeni died in hospital after being shot four times by Honolulu police during an altercation that led to his fatal shooting.
“We do not want to make unnecessary assumptions on what transpired and led to his demise; but we want the police and all relevant departments to assist the family in finding the truth of the matter, and for the culprits to be brought to book with immediate effect,” Mhlongo said.

“We have lost yet another life; one that was promising to be a shining star in the sports fraternity and a positive role model for children in the township. We have lost another black life at the hands of the police in the United States of America. It pains more because we are in the month where we are supposed to celebrate the gains we have attained when we voted for the first time in this country in 1994 and elected a government for the people where freedom was ushered.

“Freedom brought to an end the brutality of the apartheid police, but we are stunned by the force used by police in countries that are purported to be civilised, such as the USA. We want to pass our heartfelt condolences to his wife Lindsay, their two children and entire family, as well as friends and the local rugby fraternity which he loved,” Mhlongo said.

Mhlongo was appraised by the family members on how far the repatriation process is.

“Our task as the government closest to the people is to assist and link them with relevant authorities to iron out where there might be bottlenecks. We will be monitoring the progress and assist the family where possible and necessary within our limitations,” Mhlongo said.

Mayor Mhlongo called for calm among the citizens of the City of uMhlathuze, especially for their reactions on social media, ‘as this may have a bearing on the repatriation process that is very delicate between the two countries at this time’.