Lindani Myeni’s grandmother Ntombifuthi Xaki had friends and family laughing as she regaled them with tales of his strength, bravery and personality during a memorial in Empangeni on Thursday.

The 29-year-old from eSikhawini, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, died in hospital after being shot four times by members of the Honolulu police department responding to a “burglary in progress” at a home in Nuuanu, Hawaii in April. He lived in Hawaii with his wife Lindsay and two children, who arrived in SA last week.

The body of the former rugby player was repatriated to SA on Saturday...