Another South African International Targeted By Armed Robbers

A second South African international footballer has been targeted in an armed robbery after the parents of midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi were held up while he slept slept in a neighbouring property.

The close shave comes just days after goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead in a botched robbery at the home of his girlfriend on 26 October.

Vilakazi was a roommate of Meyiwa in recent national team camps and claims the robbers asked for him specifically, but his parents would not disclose he was sleeping in a cottage behind the house.

The 24-year-old South African Player of the Year, who plays for the BidVest Wits club in Johannesburg, lost only some clothes, while his parents had jewellery and household items stolen.

“I was sleeping in one of the rooms at the back. They asked about my whereabouts and the keys of my car,” he was quoted as saying by kickoff.com.

“My mom, father and young brother were held hostage by the criminals. They took cash, TV set, music system, wedding rings from my parents and some of my clothing.

“Everything happened when I was sleeping and I didn’t hear anything. Imagine if I woke up and went in what would have happened. I’m still hurt and trying to recover from what happened to Senzo Meyiwa.“

Vilakazi was on Tuesday named in the South Africa squad for the African Nations Cup qualifiers home to Sudan and away in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the South African Football Association has announced a campaign for stricter gun control in the wake of Meyiwa’s death. SAFA officials Danny Jordaan and Norman Arendse, prominent human rights lawyer George Bizos and social justice activist Adele Kirsten have called on supporters to join a march to parliament in Pretoria which will demand an amnesty.

“We want everyone to rally behind the campaign. This is a matter that has to concern all of us. It’ll be given shape by a committee formed by the SAFA NEC,” said Arendse.

“We are unable today to announce any plans … but there will be a match to Parliament to highlight this issue. We’re unable to announce the date of this march but it’ll probably be after the next [Bafana] match.”

Even though South Africa’s murder rate has been gradually dropping, police recorded more than 17,000 murders last year.

[Guardian]