Lindani Myeni latest: Former rugby player’s body to arrive in SA

The body of Lindani Myeni, the South African man shot dead by police in the United States (US), is set to arrive in the country on Saturday morning, 1 May 2021.

Myeni’s body is reported to have first departed Honolulu International Airport on Tuesday, before making stops in Dallas, Texas, followed by London Heathrow on Thursday.

Government had first said his remains would arrive on Friday, but there was a change of plans.

“Just minor amendments on the arrival of Mr Lindani Myeni’s mortal remains. The arrival of the body will be now Saturday 10:40 at OR Tambo International Airport. Mr Myeni’s body will be handed over to family at 12:40,” government said.

He will be laid to rest on 8 May in KwaZulu-Natal.

Myeni, a KZN-born former rugby player, was shot dead by police in Hawaii, the United States (US) earlier in the month.

American police officers have long been accused of being heavy-handed towards black men, and in a number of instances, the men have died.

While police have released some footage of their exchange with Myeni on that fateful day, his wife believes there’s still some evidence being hidden.

Lindani Myeni’s wife wants US officers jailed for his fatal shooting

Lindsay Myeni, the wife of Lindani Myeni, is continuing in her quest for justice and wants the officers implicated in his fatal shooting brought to book.

Speaking outside Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday, 30 April 2021, Myeni said police still had some of her late husband’s possessions.

“The investigators told me that he had passed. They met me at hospital because I went looking for my husband and I didn’t know where he was. I got a tip from someone that he might have been involved in a shooting,” she said.

“There are so many unanswered questions, We just want his belongings back and I would like for those officers to serve jail time. I can’t continue to speculate, I won’t have peace. I need the evidence. We are suing the city of Honolulu. I just know that he was shot in the leg and three times on the chest.”

Lindsay Myeni, Lindani Myeni’s wife

Myeni’s family is set to take legal action against police for his death.

So far, US police have denied that his race had anything to do with how their scuffle with him played out.

“Officers administered first aid to the suspect and the man was transported to the hospital in critical condition. He died of his injuries at the hospital. The three responding officers were also taken to the hospital for multiple injuries,” Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard said.