Soccer star Khayelihle Shozi is still missing
THE family of a missing former Mamelodi Sundowns and TS Galaxy player Khayelihle Shozi, from enteke, Mariannhill, confirmed yesterday that he remains missing since his disappearance in November.
This comes after images of the player digging in a rubbish bin and a video showing him in police custody went viral over the weekend.
Those who shared the video claimed that Shozi had been reunited with his family. Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach Steve Komphela also shared the fake news.
“Thank you so much to all who thought of us, attempted helping us, those who assisted indeed. The boy has been found apparently. Hoping indeed he’s okay to receive further intervention to assist him regain his dignity and self-esteem,” said Komphela.
However, the soccer star’s brother, Simphiwe Shozi, slammed the coach and said opportunists had started sharing the photos to remove attention from themselves. He explained that both the photo and video making the rounds were taken last year when his brother went missing for the first time but was found.
He said the family were urgently seeking a legal representative who could assist them in obtaining contracts from his brother’s former clubs as they believe they are owed money.
“When he went missing for the first time I found him at the Richards Bay taxi rank and got permission from the rank manager to take him home. That’s when the photo was taken,” he said.
“I can also confirm that the video involving the police was taken last year. We believe that it is JDR (Stars FC) and TS Galaxy who are deliberately perpetuating this to divert attention from the real issues.”
Khayelihle, 27, joined Mamelodi Sundowns during the 2015/16 season. He moved to Supersport United, then to Black Leopards before joining TS Galaxy in 2019. Last year he joined a National First Division club, JDR Stars, based in Pretoria.
His brother said he was informed by Khayelihle’s teammates in October that he was not well. He was showing signs of instability and mental illness. He had been missing training sessions but club management allegedly failed to inform the family.
“I was told that he was walking around in Kempton Park wearing his soccer boots and when he would miss training for weeks on end, no one called us to tell us that they could not locate him. His agent also never bothered to call. He was her client but she has never helped with anything to assist us to look for him,” he said.
When Khayelihle initially went missing in October, he was found and was taken to a traditional healer in Tembisa.
“We were busy with his treatment but there was not enough money. I contacted Tim Sukazi, owner of TS Galaxy, and informed him that we required financial assistance to get my brother well.
“To this day we are yet to hear from him. He has also failed to inform my family that my brother was sick while still playing for his club. This is too painful for my family,” Shozi said.
In response to the allegations, Komphela said: “As I said ‘apparently’.
“The boy hasn’t been found yet and the search is on. Let’s hope and pray we find him. Thanks again as we continue to look out there for him. Please help us. The search for Khaya is still on. That video is an old one apparently.”
Basia Michaels, executive manager at Quality Talent Sports and Khayelihle’s agent, had not responded at the time of publication.