The captain and goalkeeper of South Africa's national football team, Senzo Meyiwa, has been shot dead, police have confirmed.
The shooting happened after several men entered a house in the Vosloorus township near Johannesburg at about 8pm local time on Sunday, police said.
�We have to brake (sic) normal protocol. "There was an altercation. Senzo Meyiwa was shot,� the official South African police Twitter account said.
"We can confirm that Bucs keeper Senzo Meyiwa has been shot and sadly declared dead on arrival at hospital,� it said.
"There were 7 people inside the house. Two suspects went into the house, one remained outside. The three fled on foot after the shooting."
The incident happened at around 20h00, Zamo Section in Vosloorus.
Police said a reward of 150,000 rand (about �8,500) had been offered for information leading to an arrest.
He had been a star for Bafana Bafana in recent months, and in the four AFCON qualifiers played to date he was yet to concede a goal, and captained the team in the absence of regular 'keeper and skipper, Itumeleng Khune.
�We can assure all South Africans that we will do all can to bring Meyiwa�s killers book,� police added.
�We know there are upset and hurt people at the house where incident occurred and at hospital. Calm please.�
There were unconfirmed reports that Mr Meyiwa, who played for South Africa's Orlando Pirates team, had been at his girlfriend's house in Vosloorus when someone tried to rob him.
In a related development, Orlando Pirates Sporting Club has also confirmed the incident. The club issued a statement on their website on Sunday saying it "has learned with sadness about the untimely death of our number one goalkeeper and current captain Senzo Meyiwa."
Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza said "this is a sad loss whichever way you look at it � to Senzo's family, his extended family, Orlando Pirates and to the nation."
Teammates expressed their shock and grief in messages on Twitter.
Dean Furman, who plays for Doncaster Rovers, wrote: "Beyond devastated at the loss of our captain and friend Senzo Meyiwa. Thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this terrible time."
And Andile Jali said: "Just got a call and I was sleeping but now I can't sleep."
Source: Independent.co.uk with some files from Press Association
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