Murdered ballers | The South African football stars we lost to violence

When one speaks of the tragic intersections of sport and violence in South Africa, the name Senzo Meyiwa inevitably surfaces, a grim reminder of the chaos that often envelops the nation's beloved football scene.

But Meyiwa is not alone — numerous players, officials, and figures within the football fraternity have met untimely ends through acts of senseless violence, underscoring a troubling trend that continues to haunt South Africa's sport.

The truth is that South Africa has long grappled with high rates of violent crime, a reality that permeates many aspects of life, including the world of football. The sport has witnessed heartbreaking incidents as young talents and respected figures have seen their lives cut short by brutality, casting a long shadow over the passion and optimism that the beautiful game typically inspires.

IOL Sport looks at those who lost their lives to violence.

Senzo Meyiwa

Senzo Meyiwa’s senseless killing 10 years ago is probably one that many think about when the subject of players meeting their untimely deaths in a violent manner.

Meyiwa was the Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain at the time, and his stature in the South African game was growing. He was starting to become a key player for both club and country.

However, on October 26, 2014, the Bafana skipper’s life ended when he was shot at his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s house. The murder of one of South Africa’s top footballers sent shockwaves across the country. The trial to figure out what happened on that October night is currently ongoing.

Oshwin Andries

Oshwin Andries was one of the most exciting young players in South Africa when his life tragically ended two years ago. Andries had captained South Africa’s junior national teams, and was starting to make a name for himself at Stellenbosch FC. He was a player who had the football world at his feet.

On January 29, 2023, the 19-year-old was stabbed when having drinks at a gathering with friends in Klapmuts on the Cape Winelands. He was rushed to hospital in Stellenbosch, but was discharged after five hours after his wounds were bandaged.

Five days later, Andries started experiencing some pain, and his mother drove him to hospital. Unfortunately, his succumbed to his injuries before they arrived.  

Marc Batchelor

Throughout his football career, Marc Batchelor was one of the few players who featured for the big four clubs, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, and the now defunct Moroka Swallows.

Batch played a key role in helping Pirates win the African Cup of Champion Clubs – now known as the CAF Champions League – back in 1995. To date, that remains the club’s only title on the continent.

After calling time on his career in the early 2000s, Batchelor worked as a pundit for SuperSport, but he was fired by the broadcaster in 2007 after he was involved in a fight in a restaurant. In his later years, he reportedly surrounded himself with unsavoury characters. He met his end in a hail of bullets outside of his home in Johannesburg in 2019.

Ewert Nene

Ewert Nene was one of the most influential figures in South African football. In the 1970s, he was one of the founders of the club that would go on to become Kaizer Chiefs.

Nene played a key role in recruiting players for the newly formed Kaizer Chiefs. And it was his role in convincing Teenage Dladla to leave Pimville United Brothers (PUBS) for Amakhosi that led to his eventual death.

As Nene walked down the street in Soweto, on his way to finalise Dladla's signing, he was accosted by a group of men who stabbed him to death. The motive behind the killing was because they were unhappy that Dladla, who one of the most promising young players, was about to join Chiefs.

China Hlongwane

In what was one of the darkest moments of South African football, Orlando Pirates official China Hlongwane was stabbed 27 times by fans during a televised match between the Sea Robbers and Jomo Cosmos at Ellis Park in Johannesburg back in 1985.

The larger-than-life Hlongwane would survive the vicious attack, and would eventually meet his end years later after being shot by an unknown gunman. His murder remains a mystery to this day.

Aaron “Roadblock” Makhathini

1985 was a dark year in South African football. Moroka Swallows defender Roadblock Makhathini was shot and killed as he returned home from training on April 12, 1985. His shooting was linked to the NPSL/NSL split that threatened to destroy South African football.

IOL Sport