The South African reggae musician, Lucky Dube, has been shot dead in front of his children in Johannesburg during an attempted car hijacking.
He had been dropping his teenage son and daughter off in the suburb of Rosettenville on Thursday evening.
Police say they were already out of the car when three shots were fired through a car window killing their father.
Alongside Bob Marley, he was thought of as one of the great reggae artists - singing about social problems.
He was also one of the apartheid regime's most outspoken critics.
Correspondents say the killing has shocked South Africans who are already accustomed to one of the highest murder rates in the world.
Respect
Local radio stations have been flooded with tearful callers expressing outrage at the murder and renewing demands that the authorities act to curtail crime.
HAVE YOUR SAY
He will be missed as a great musician and for his love for the children and the suffering people in Africa
Abitekaniza Denis, Kampala, Uganda
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Some have called on the country's rugby team to show some form of respect when they take to the field in Saturday's World Cup final against England in Paris.
The BBC's Mpho Lakaje, at the crash site on Thursday night, said Mr Dube's silver-grey Chrysler was surrounded by a group of investigating officers.
He noticed bloodstains on the seats and shattered windows.
Witnesses say after the shots were fired the wounded 43-year-old singer tried to drive away, but lost control of his car and hit a tree.
"He was declared dead on the scene," Police inspector Lorrain Van Immareck told the BBC.
She said it was suspected that three people were responsible for the attack.
Name
Earlier this year, Mr Dube told the BBC that his parents named him Lucky after the death of an earlier child.
"When I was born I was sick so they thought I was going to die so they didn't give me a name till I was six months or so... They waited for me to die, but when I didn't die they said, 'Wow, he's a very lucky boy!' So they called me Lucky," he said.
He began his career by singing mbaqanga (traditional Zulu) music and recorded his first album with the Super Soul band in 1982.
He later moved into reggae, producing Rastas Never Die and Think About The Children in 1984.
His albums Slave, Prisoner and Together As One saw him gain first national, and then global, recognition.
Three years ago his 1989 anti-apartheid hit Together as One, which calls for world peace and harmony, was voted one of Africa's top 10 songs by BBC readers and listeners.
Lucky Dube released his most recent album, Respect, in April
check out INDUBIOUS and ALCYON MASSIVE, they are a local southern oregon reggae band that i filmed 4... peace and love...coco www.myspace.com/indubious www.indubiousmusic.com www.myspace.com/alcyonmassive
I lived in Kona hawaii for many many years. I was a single mother, trying to make a life for myself and three sons and pretty much failing at freedom from lack. I was unable to make a decent life on the island, and decided that perhaps if I worked at a local hotel for a while, I might have some chance of buying a small bit of land or something...to build a home on. I began work at Kona Surf Resort Hotel, in a resturant called Peles Court. That job only lasted a short time as I was not really cut out for waitress work...BUT something Magical happened...during that time I did serve food to a man from the band Lucky Dube, who sat at one of my tables...his name was Jabu Mululi. We got to talking and he very kindly invited me along, to join him later and meet the group, in a hotel room there and also gave me free entry to see the concert. We became friends and the very next day I gave him a tour of a few phenomenal near-by beaches for a few hours.... it seemed to be fate that i got to meet the band, for Lucky Dube took a top ranking position in Reggae Music, for me, personally. I really loved not only the sound but the insistance on having a right to justice in this world, along with other much loved reggae greats. I have loved them, and collected the then, cassettes and CDs ever since that time so long ago, probably 17 or so years ago. Needless to say the talent of this beautiful band has never grown old with me. I was hoping to just have a Hello...a quiet shout-out, given to Jabu, and to the whole crew... that is if Jabu...on Sax...is still with the band. I know that my favorite reggae band will march on forever in time, regardless of the crossing of its wonderfully talented front~man Lucky! He is in paradise where all good men find their heart is eternally at ~HoMe Again~ Thanks so much, if you could, please deliver me a message to my friends from the band. ~Peace & LoVe in Jah~ Dreaming TK Tracey
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