South Africans are demanding justice for Lindani Myeni who was shot and killed by American cops in Hawaii last week.
Meanwhile efforts to repatriate his body are underway, while people have also reached out to his bereaved wife and the couple’s two young children.
A GoFundMe account – with a target of over R1 million to take care of the body’s transportation back to his hometown Esikhaleni, near Richards Bay, funeral costs and possible legal fees – was created on Friday by friends and family.
Myeni, 29, a mechanical engineer and former rugby player who had a green card interview scheduled for next week, was living on the exotic island with his American wife Lindsay, 29, and their son and baby daughter.
Lindsay said he had gone for a drive to clear his head.
Police allege that Myeni entered a house in the Nuuanu area, where he allegedly sat down, took off his shoes and struck up a conversation with the upset homeowners who asked him to leave.
Susan Ballard, chief of the Honolulu Police Department, said three cops were dispatched to a robbery in progress and when they arrived at the residence, the homeowner pointed out Myeni who was sitting in his car.
They claim Myeni got out, charged at the cops and assaulted them before they shot him.
But in a video from the bodycam of one of the officers, Myeni walks toward officers and a scuffle ensues. Four shots are fired amid screaming.
Prior to leaving the country, Myeni played for the Durban Jaguars.
Nkululeko Ngubane, KZN EFF spokesperson and neighbour of the Myeni’s, said Myeni did not have a criminal record, but had been arrested more than three times “which we know was done on the basis of his skin colour”.