JOHANNESBURG: Singing hymns and blowing vuvuzelas, South African sporting fans on Thursday paid final respects to three sporting figures who died within three days of each other.

South Africa’s sport ministry organised a combined memorial service for fans of national football captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, Olympic silver medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and welterweight boxer Phindile Mwelase.

Along with supporters wearing club and national jerseys, South Africa’s sporting figures and officials gathered at an indoor sports arena in downtown Johannesburg. The crowd fell silent as the families of the deceased entered the hall.

Meyiwa, who was also goalkeeper for one of South Africa’s most popular club football teams Orlando Pirates, was killed in an apparent robbery on Sunday.

Mulaudzi, an 800-metre world champion, died in a car crash on Friday while female boxer Mwelase died Saturday after two weeks in a coma following a bout.

On Thursday police denied that they had arrested two people in connection with Meyiwa’s killing, but a manhunt continues.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the ex-wife of late president Nelson Mandela, also attended the memorial.

Meyiwa’s funeral, meanwhile, has been moved from a stadium in his home township of Umlazi, on the outskirts of Durban, to the city’s 54,000-seater Moses Mabhida Stadium because large crowds are expect to attend on Saturday.

The South African Football Association also moved their next African Nations Cup qualifier against Sudan from Nelspruit to Meyiwa’s hometown of Durban.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2014