South African police on Monday arrested five suspects over the 2014 murder of national football captain Senzo Meyiwa, a major breakthrough in a case that shocked the nation.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper and national squad captain was shot dead at the home of his pop-star girlfriend Kelly Khumalo, in southeast of Johannesburg during the evening of October 26, 2014.

Up until this moment, the police have been unable to solve the case hence accused of incompetence.

However, a newly-appointed cold case unit took over the inactive investigation in 2018, gathering evidence that allowed police to make a first string of arrests exactly six years after Meyiwa’s murder.

“The first five suspects have been arrested… this morning,” police minister Bheki Cele told reporters on Monday.

“Investigations are still ongoing and more arrests cannot be ruled out,” he added, lauding the cold-case team for their “tireless” work.

National police commissioner Khehla Sitole said one of the detainees was “the key suspect suspected of having pulled the trigger”.

Sitole explained that key evidence emerged when investigators found the firearm used to shoot Meyiwa and linked it back to the crime scene.

“We have a concrete case this time because it is backed by evidence,” he said, noting that the “cracking of the case” had merely coincided with the murder’s anniversary.

The five suspects are scheduled to be formally charged in court on Tuesday.

Meyiwa was captain and goalkeeper of both the Bafana Bafana national team and the Orlando Pirates football club.

Cele lamented the “immeasurable pain” suffered by Senzo’s family and fans, and vowed to “ensure justice”

(AFP)