Man arrested in murder of S. Africa`s football captain

USPA News - A 25-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of South Africa`s national football team captain Senzo Meyiwa, prosecutors said on Friday. At least two additional suspects are still being sought.

Nathi Mncube, a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said 25-year-old Zanokuhle Mbatha was arrested in connection with last week`s murder of Meyiwa. "He is facing a charge of murder and robbery. He will appear at the Boksburg Magistrate court on [November 11]," Mncube said. Lt. General Solomon Makgale, a spokesman for the South African Police Service (SAPS), said Mbatha was arrested after several witnesses identified him during an identity parade on Thursday. "After receiving information about a number of suspects, we conducted an identity parade during which some of the witnesses positively identified one person," the spokesman said. Makgale said the suspect made a brief court appearance on Friday, after which he was remanded in custody. "Whilst we are pleased with the progress we are making and the overwhelming support from members of the public, there is still a lot of work to be done to finalize the investigation and ensure that we can link all suspects to the murder," the spokesman said. "We must emphasize that Mr. Mbatha is regarded as a suspect at the moment and we therefore must allow due process of the law to take its course." The South African Police Service said no further details would be released until a media briefing on Monday. Meyiwa was shot to death on late Sunday during a house robbery in Johannesburg. According to police, two men entered the house where Meyiwa was visiting friends and confronted the 7 people who were there, stealing a cellphone which was being charged at the residence. One shot was fired, killing the goalkeeper with a bullet to his upper body. A third suspect waited outside the residence during the robbery.