Killing of Myeni brings back bitter memories

THE death of Lindani Myeni, a former KZN man, in Hawaii has sent shock waves through the country.

As the Black Lives Matter movement still seeks justice for George Floyd and the Take The Knee initiative continues to highlight racism and police brutality, the murder of unarmed civilians by police is still taking place.

Myeni was unarmed when he was shot dead by three police officers.

Black Americans and South Africans shared similar experiences, at the hands of police, during the battle for civil rights and the fight to end apartheid.

This was a complex and complicated relationship that changed over time, but the trust relationship was never fully restored.

Ten years ago, Ficksburg community activist Andries Tatane died after he was beaten and shot with rubber bullets, during a confrontation with the police. His family are still on a quest for justice.

Larry Pye, the Amazon Number One best selling author of The Twinkle Box, reflecting on his university life as a young black man, described his encounter with police, in California in 1970: “As a black man, it’s not uncommon to be stopped and harassed by white police officers for no valid reason... all black men notice the unfairness, the injustice and the deep humiliation of the situation, but we suppress our feelings. At that moment, our goal is to make it back home ... safely.”

Myeni’s wife said he had told her during a call that he was on his way home prior to the shooting. Only the absolute truth of what happened on that tragic night will suffice.