Daily Sun (November 6 2014) - SENZO'S dad just wanted to thank mourners. But his wave to the crowds took on a life of its own on the internet . . .
NOW THE GRIEVING FATHER IS BEGGING PEOPLE TO STOP MOCKING HIM!
Samuel Meyiwa told Daily Sun that he's hurt and disappointed that his gesture of gratitude has been turned into a joke. Not long after Saturday's funeral at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban, KZN, Facebook and Twitter users started taking selfies copying Sam's wave.
Speaking through family spokeswoman Jabu Buthelezi, Sam said he was shocked by the pictures.
"We urge people to respect the fact that this is still a mourning period for the family," Jabu said.
"What's happening is disrespectful."
Some people have criticised Sam, saying it was culturally wrong for him to wave like that from a car carrying his son's body, and that he was looking for attention.
But the Meyiwa family rubbished this
accusation.
"People are criticising him when all he was doing was thanking South Africans for their support," Jabu said.
"Sam was overwhelmed when he saw how many people came to his son's funeral, and he waved to the crowd to thank them.
"It was expected that as chief mourner, he would give thanks on behalf of the family, but he was too weak to go to the podium.
"That's why he waved from a car."
By yesterday, the wave had been given many names, inspiring Twitter hashtags such as #MeyiwaWave, #NotSenzoMeyiwaDad and #WindiesNotSelfies.
Social media users posted pictures of themselves waving out of their cars, windows, shopping trolleys and doors.
Other users posted photos of dogs with their paws up in the air.
) Senzo's wife didn't mean it when she told a newspaper that the couple had ended their relationship weeks before the Bafana Bafana captain was murdered.
This is what Meyiwa family spokeswoman said yesterday.
"We discussed the story with Mandisa and she said she was angry at the time that she spoke to the City Press reporter," Jabu said.
"She'd just seen Senzo and Kelly Khumalo on SuperSport, and angrily told Senzo that she was giving up on the marriage.
"But we have seen an SMS from Senzo in which he replied to Mandisa, telling her not to worry and that she was still his wife. He said he was planning a white wedding for them.
"As a family, we were waiting for the wedding date because we knew that Mandisa and Senzo would work out their issues."
Jabu could not show Daily Sun the SMS.
"Mandisa prefers to mourn in peace," she said.
"I cannot ask her for her phone. If people do not believe what we're saying, we can't change that."
Jabu also dismissed a report in a Zulu newspaper that Senzo removed Mandisa as a dependent from his medical aid.
"Records show that she was still a
member," Jabu said.
See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....
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