Family grieves as Myeni’s body returns home
THE family of Lindani Myeni was reunited with his remains which were repatriated from the US in preparation for his funeral this week.
It was a sombre moment at OR Tambo International Airport when Myeni's family received his coffin. His wife, Lindsay, dressed in black, sat nearby his white coffin weeping as family members clutched and comforted the young children and each other.
Myeni’s family was joined by a delegation sent by KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala. They were social development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza; arts, culture, sports and recreation MEC Hlengiwe Mavimbela; public works and human settlement MEC Ntuthuko Sibiya and KZN director-general Nonhlanhla Mkhize.
A prayer was held at the airport before the family began their drive back to their home town of esikhawini.
Myeni was shot and killed by police in Hawaii last month.
The 29-year-old and three police officers had an altercation which resulted in Myeni being shot four times.
Pastor Beatrice Nhleko spoke on behalf of the Myeni family: “He is our son, our hero. Young as he is, we are proud that he has triggered the whole world to be aware of what is happening in the US and to fight for justice.
Now the world knows who he is, it is written in their books and they will tell their children there was a young man from South Africa who changed history.”
Khoza, speaking on behalf of the KZN government at the prayer, said it was with great sadness that they welcomed home the body of a son of the soil who was killed by those meant to protect him.