The former rugby player and father of two was shot and killed during an altercation with the police in Hawaii, Western United States, last week.

The campaign has already raised more than R228 000.

Myeni’s mother, Sizani Nhleko, says the government is in constant communication with them. Nhleko says her son’s body is yet to be released from the US government mortuary.

“The ambassador from overseas called us and gave their condolences as well as from the President – our President Cyril Ramaphosa. Last night, they spoke with us and they promised that as soon as the body is released from the USA government to their hands, then they will bring his body back home. I must say that the government is behind us; we really appreciate their support,” she adds.

Family not convinced Myeni was violent

The video of the altercation between the 29-year-old and the police has been widely shared on social media.

It’s still unclear what sparked the confrontation. However, the Honolulu police claim they were responding to a call on a burglary in progress.

They have denied wrongdoing and allege that Myeni was violent.

The US lawyer representing the Myeni family has asked for the release of the 911 tapes and body cam footage that precedes what the Honolulu Police Department has chosen to release.

In a statement sent to SABC News, they’ve called on the police to come clean. It is reported that trial attorney Jim Bickerton has also questioned why police didn’t first identify themselves when approaching the deceased.

Bickerton questioned the HPD holding Myeni’s phone as evidence, saying that in shooting an unarmed man, the burden is on the police and that they’ve not come clean. Pointing to the HPD’s claim that the encounter had nothing to do with race, he questions why Myeni was not given the opportunity to hear the required words “this is the police”, calling that failure on their part unconscionable.

The statement also leans into the argument that due to the late hour, the flashlight in Myeni’s eyes could have added to the escalation. The attorney says the South African was being treated aggressively and disrespectfully from the very beginning. Police earlier said the deadly force was justified because they were in a fight for their lives.

In the video below, footage from body cam is released and SABC News correspondent Sherwin Bryce-Peace takes us through the information they have so far: 

It is still not clear what Myeni was doing at the house where he is alleged to have entered and took off his shoes.

Meanwhile, the family says racism had a lot to do with the attack as they wait for more answers.

SABC News