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.
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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
Just celebrated my 60th birthday .Played all your music and watched DVD,s of you I miss you sooooo much such a tragedy to lose you from our world,You live forever dear Lucky ..........
Cannot Believe it is Two Years Since You Were Taken From us Lucky!!.Still Missing You!!.Hope You are Still Reggaeing Over the Rainbow!!.Love,Peace&Rock(and Reggae) xx
RIP Dear Lucky 2 years without you has been so hard ,play your music everyday never out of my life will always think of your visits to Australia with great reverance was a true blessing to meet you and know you .Blessings my dear friend .Angie xxxx
THE NIGERIA AFRICA BORN, EUROPE BASE ARTIST! RELEASE NEW SINGLE TRACK (HUNGER FIRE IN AFRICA) SAY WE NEED PEACE IN AFRICA!! ALL AFRICA YOUTH FREEDOM!! PEACE & LOVE BLESS
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