The family of the late Senzo Meyiwa, former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, is losing hope of ever meeting his daughter, Thingo, with afro-pop artist Kelly Khumalo. According to a report by ZiMoja, the Meyiwa family has struggled for years to establish contact with Kelly Khumalo and her daughter.
Thingo was just a few months old when her father, Senzo Meyiwa, was tragically killed in October 2014 at the home of Kelly Khumalo’s maternal grandmother in Vosloorus. Since that fateful day, the Meyiwa family has made numerous attempts to reach out to Kelly, but their efforts have been met with silence. Calls and messages have gone unanswered, leaving the family feeling increasingly despondent.
A cousin of the Meyiwa family revealed to ZiMoja that the family only met Thingo once. This rare meeting occurred when Kelly’s mother and father brought the young child to visit her paternal grandparents in Umlazi, near Durban. The cousin explained that after Senzo’s death, the family gave Kelly space, understanding her grief and the national scrutiny she faced.
“When Kelly told us she wouldn’t be attending Senzo’s burial, we respected her decision. At that moment, the family was still in deep mourning. Given that the entire nation was blaming her for Senzo’s death, it was understandable that she couldn’t bring Thingo to the funeral,” the insider shared.
Last year, during an interview with eNCA, Senzo’s brother, Sifiso Meyiwa, disclosed that their sister Nokuthula had also tried to reach out to Kelly after Senzo’s passing. However, these attempts were similarly met with no response from the singer.
The family’s frustration is compounded by the emotional toll of losing Senzo and the longing to connect with his daughter. As time goes by, their hopes of building a relationship with Thingo seem to dwindle. Despite their efforts and understanding of the difficult position Kelly Khumalo has found herself in, the Meyiwa family remains heartbroken over the lack of communication and connection with Senzo’s daughter.
As the legal battles and investigations surrounding Senzo Meyiwa’s murder continue, the family is left grappling not only with their grief but also with the yearning to be a part of Thingo’s life. For now, the Meyiwas can only hope that one day, Kelly Khumalo might open the door to a relationship that would honor Senzo’s memory and provide a bridge between his daughter and her paternal family.