According to ZiMoja, the family of the late Senzo Meyiwa, former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, has lost hope of ever meeting his daughter with afro-pop star Kelly Khumalo. Kelly’s daughter, Thingo, was only a few months old when her father was murdered at her maternal grandmother’s home in Vosloorus in October 2014.
For years, the Meyiwa family has struggled to establish contact with Kelly, who has not responded to their calls. According to the family, they have only seen Thingo once, when Senzo brought her to their home in Umlazi with Kelly’s mother. A relative told ZiMoja that the family respected Kelly’s decision not to attend Senzo’s funeral, understanding the immense blame placed on her for his death at the time.
In an eNCA interview last year, Senzo’s brother, Sifiso, recounted how their sister, Nokuthula, tried to reach out to Kelly without success. The family, along with their aunt, also attempted to contact the Khumalos, but their efforts were ignored.
A source close to the family revealed that they had hoped Kelly would eventually allow them to see Thingo. “It has been ten years now, and Senzo’s mother, Ntombi, and his sister, Zama, are desperate to have a relationship with the girl,” the source said. “All they want is to spend time with Thingo so that she knows her siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles. It is unfair for the child to only hear about the Meyiwa family in the media and not spend time with them.”
The source emphasised the importance of Thingo knowing her uncle Sifiso and learning the family rituals. “Senzo and Sifiso were very close. So Sifiso, as the uncle, is like the father to Thingo,” the source added.
Senzo’s sister, Zama Meyiwa, confirmed that they last saw Thingo when she was six months old and have since given up trying to reach Kelly. “The whole family is not happy that we don’t have access to her. She is a big part of our family and looks like my brother. I just wish we could spend time with her, even if it’s just for an hour,” she said.
In a 2016 interview on Real Talk with Anele Mdoda, Kelly stated that Senzo’s family would never meet his child, a sentiment that appears unchanged despite the passage of time.
