South Africa Captain Killed 'Protecting Pop Star Girlfriend From Burglars'

The captain and goalkeeper of South Africa's national football team has been shot dead while trying to protect his pop star girlfriend from intruders, officials said.

Senzo Meyiwa, 27, was killed in a suspected robbery at actress and singer Kelly Khumalo's home in the Vosloorus township near Johannesburg at around 8pm local time on Sunday.

"Two guys entered the house and demanded cellphones, money and other valuables," the provincial official for community safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malubane, told reporters at the scene.

"Senzo tried to protect Kelly because one of the men had a gun pointed towards her."

While the two men entered the house a third waited outside, and all three fled when gunfire was heard, police said. Meyiwa was taken to hospital, but declared dead on arrival.

A reward of 150,000 rand (£8,500) has been offered for information leading to an arrest, while police called for calm among angry crowds at the house and hospital and said they would "do all we can to bring Meyiwa’s killers book".

Meyiwa captained South Africa in their last four matches in the African Nations Cup qualifiers without conceding a goal, and played on Saturday when his club Orlando Pirates advanced to the semi-finals of the South African League Cup.

What a big, sad loss! My heart goes out to his family at this difficult and trying times... RIP Senzo!