South Africa captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa has been killed after a shooting incident late on Sunday near Johannesburg.
The 27-year-old was shot dead less than 24 hours after playing for Orland Pirates in their 4-1 win over Ajax Cape Town.
Meyiwa was reportedly was shot at his girlfriend's home in Vosloorus, a township about 20 kilometres south of Johannesburg, and declared dead on arrival at hospital.
According to police, there had been an altercation before Meyiwa was shot after two people entered the home at around 8pm. The gang arrived demanding Meyiwa's mobile phone, according to one report.
"This is a sad loss to Senzo's family especially his children, to Orlando Pirates & the nation," said Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza.
Meyiwa earned three caps for Bafana Bafana after debuting for the national team last year and has been in outstanding form in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Violent gun crime in South Africa has been highlighted by the trial of Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius, who was found guilty of shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and jailed for five years last week.
More than 17,000 people were murdered in South Africa between April 2013 and March 2014, an increase of about 800 over the previous year, according to police figures.
The 27-year-old was shot dead less than 24 hours after playing for Orland Pirates in their 4-1 win over Ajax Cape Town.
Meyiwa was reportedly was shot at his girlfriend's home in Vosloorus, a township about 20 kilometres south of Johannesburg, and declared dead on arrival at hospital.
According to police, there had been an altercation before Meyiwa was shot after two people entered the home at around 8pm. The gang arrived demanding Meyiwa's mobile phone, according to one report.
"This is a sad loss to Senzo's family especially his children, to Orlando Pirates & the nation," said Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza.
Meyiwa earned three caps for Bafana Bafana after debuting for the national team last year and has been in outstanding form in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Violent gun crime in South Africa has been highlighted by the trial of Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius, who was found guilty of shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and jailed for five years last week.
More than 17,000 people were murdered in South Africa between April 2013 and March 2014, an increase of about 800 over the previous year, according to police figures.
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