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Suspect in court over South African football captain murder

By AFP
South Africa A fan cries holding a portrait of the slain Bafana-Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa during a memorial service in Johannesburg on October 30, 2014.  By Marco Longari AFP
OCT 31, 2014 LISTEN
A fan cries holding a portrait of the slain Bafana-Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa during a memorial service in Johannesburg on October 30, 2014. By Marco Longari (AFP)

Johannesburg (AFP) - A suspect appeared in court Friday over the murder of South African football captain Senzo Meyiwa, whose killing during a robbery has shocked the nation, prosecutors said.

Zanokuhle Mbatha, 25, was charged with "murder and armed robbery", National Prosecution Authority spokesman Nathi Mncube told AFP.

He was remanded in custody until November 11 to allow him time to apply for legal aid.

Meyiwa was gunned down last Sunday by an intruder while visiting his pop star girlfriend's home some 30 kilometres (20 miles) south of Johannesburg, before making off with a cell phone.

More than 17,000 people were killed in South Africa last year, but the slaying of a popular sporting hero has stunned even this crime-weary nation.

On Thursday police had denied reports that they had arrested two people linked to the murder.

Meyiwa, will be buried Saturday in his hometown of Umlazi on the outskirts of the eastern coastal city of Durban.

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