Late football star Senzo Meyiwa’s known firstborn child, Namhla Meyiwa, has hit a special milestone – she has turned 18!
And it will likely be a bittersweet occasion for the bubbly teen – who bears a striking resemblance to her late father.
Later this month, the Meyiwa family will commemorate the ten-year anniversary since the Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper was shot and in 2014.
His death remains unsolved despite an ongoing high-profile murder trial.
In an Instagram Story, Senzo Meyiwa’s widow, Mandisa Mkhize, shared a birthday tribute to Namhla, whose mother is unknown.
Namhla Meyiwa
Despite being born before her marriage to the soccer star, Mandisa has embraced the young woman as her own child. Mandisa and Senzo had their own daughter together, Nana, who recently turned 16 years old.
Mandisa posted, “Happy birthday to my beautiful daughter,” to which Namhla responded, “Thanks, mom.”
Namhla reportedly lives with Senzo’s mother, Ntombifuthi, who is her legal guardian, in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal. She was just eight years old when her father was allegedly shot by masked robbers at the home of the mother of his mistress, Kelly Khumalo.
According to Diski365, the now 18-year-old was previously financially supported by the NGO Red Ants. She’s also received assistance from Senzo’s fellow Orlando Pirates colleague Brilliant Khuzwayo.
In 2016, IOL reported that the Premier Soccer League (PSL) paid out R4 million in an insurance policy towards Senzo Meyiwa. Half of it went to his club, Orlando Pirates. The other half was to be split among his three children – his last born being daughter Thingo, with Kelly.
Meanwhile, TimesLive reported that Senzo also fathered a fourth child—a son—who was introduced to his family several months after his death.
On 26 October, soccer fans, friends, and the family of Senzo Meyiwa will commemorate the tenth anniversary of his death.
Five men are currently on trial for his murder in a highly publicised-trial. However, many South Africans – including Meyiwa’s nearest and dearest don’t believe they are behind the murder.
Senzo’s brother Sifiso Meyiwa recently claimed that the late star player was by someone he knew, who was in the Vosloorus home of Kelly Khumalo’s mother.
According to claims heard in court, those in the home included Kelly, her mother Ntombi, her sister Zandi, and her then-boyfriend Longwe Twala. Two of Senzo’s friends, Mthokozisi Thwala and Tumelo Madlala, were also present, as were Kelly’s two children, then four-year-old son, Christian, and seven-month-old daughter, Thingo.