JOHANNESBURG: Senzo Meyiwa, South Africa’s national football team goalkeeper and captain, has been shot dead by apparent intruders in Vosloorus, a township about 12 miles south of Johannesburg.

Meyiwa played for the Orlando Pirates on Saturday and captained Bafana Bafana in their last four 2015 African Nations Cup qualifiers.

The South African Police Service announced via Twitter: “We can confirm that Bucs keeper Senzo Meyiwa has been shot and sadly declared dead on arrival at hospital.”

Police indicated later that a search had been launched for seven men and that the incident had taken place at the home of Meyiwa’s girlfriend.

Irvin Khoza, chairman of Pirates whom Meyiwa joined in 2005, said: “This is a sad loss to Senzo’s family especially his children, to Orlando Pirates and the nation.”

Meyiwa’s death was the second tragedy to hit South African sport within three days after former world 800m athletics champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi died on Friday in a car crash.

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