Another young life, full of promise and potential, has been cut short on South Africa’s football fields.
On Tuesday, Zondi collapsed while playing for his club – formerly Maritzburg United – forcing their Motsepe Foundation Championship game against Milford FC to be abandoned. Attempts to revive him proved futile, and the club confirmed he died in hospital.
Football players suddenly losing their lives is something that been happening far too often in South African football.
Just this decade alone, the league has already lost Bonginkosi Ntuli (32), Siphamandla Mtolo (29), Steven Ncanana (36), Lesiba Ramabula (21), and Nkanyiso Mngwengwe (30). And in 2018, Maritzburg United’s Luyanda Ntshangase died at just the age of 21.
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These are just the ones who died following illness.
AmaZulu’s Ntuli died from an “aggressive form of cancer”, while Richards Bay captain Mtolo and Golden Arrows’ skipper Mngwengwe both succumbed to suspected heart related issues. Both 21-year-olds, Ntshangase and Ramabula, died after being struck by lightning during training.
There have also been those who died after being victims of crime. A little over a year ago, Kaizer Chiefs defender Luke Fleurs died after being shot in a hijacking incident. And in 2023, Stellenbosch FC defender and SA U20 captain Oshwin Andries died on his way to hospital a couple of days after being stabbed during a party.
These two were a stark reminder of the realities of life in South Africa.
But, the biggest killer of South African footballers over the past 25 years has been car accidents.
Since 2000, 12 players, and nine in the last 10 years, have lost their lives on the road. In a space of two years, Maritzburg United lost two players – Mondli Cele and Mlondi Dlamini – in what was a tragic period for the club.
The Henyekane family suffered the worst tragedy December 2014 and April 2015 when brothers Joseph and Richard died in separate accidents. Joseph was playing for second tier Roses United at the time, while Bafana forward Richard was at Free State Stars, on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns.
The other stars who died in car accidents were: Lesley Manyathela, Gift Leremi, Cecil Lolo, Mogau Tshehl, Sinethemba Jantjie, Thembinkosi Mbamba, Anele Ngcongca, and Motjeka Madisha. Due to a lot of these accidents happening in the early hours of the morning, it has often been speculated that alcohol played a part.
What more will it take for real action to be taken? The repeated tragedies facing South African footballers — whether through preventable health issues, crime, or road accidents — are not just isolated incidents, but symptoms of deeper systemic failures.
The footballing fraternity must stop treating these losses as tragic footnotes and start demanding change. From mandatory health protocols and mental health support to better road safety education and stronger crime prevention efforts, it’s time for football authorities, clubs, and society at large to treat the lives of players with the urgency and care they deserve.
Enough mourning — what we need now is accountability.
Sport
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of or Independent Media.
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