Reggae artist Lucky Dube shot dead in hijacking
By Lebogang Seale
http://www.thestar.co.za
World-acclaimed reggae singer Lucky Dube has been shot and killed in a hijacking.
The incident took place just after 8pm last night when Dube went to drop off his son at his uncle's house in Rosettenville, southern Joburg. Two men approached him and opened fire.
An injured Dube tried to flee but drove his grey Chrysler sedan into a tree and died on the scene. No further details were available as his son, who reportedly witnessed the incident, was still in shock.
Among the first to arrive at the scene were fellow musicians Mzwakhe Mbuli, Ringo Madlingozi and Deborah Fraser.
Mbuli said: "It's a contrast that while the country is preparing itself for the Rugby World Cup final, we are robbed by this tragedy.
"How do you celebrate when you're in mourning? I hope the police get to the bottom of this and arrest the culprits," he said.
According to a witness, the hijackers opened the musician's door and shot him twice.
"Dube tried to drive away and hit a black Opel Corsa and then lost control of his car and hit a tree."
Dube's recording company, Gallo Records, paid tribute to the musician.
"He was a soft, well-spoken man, and a great friend," said Ivor Haarburger, the CEO of the Gallo music group.
Haarburger said Dube was the best reggae performer in the world and that he had bigger following internationally than in South Africa.
"He was huge in (the rest of) Africa, he could draw 40 000 to 50 000 people to a concert," Haarburger said.
He said Dube had recently been spending time overseas, getting his material released and had been talking of a new album. "But we were nowhere near to recording."
Lucky Dube was born on August 3 1964 in Ermelo, Mpumalanga. He launched his career as an mbhaqanga singer in 1979 and switched to reggae in 1984 to express his anger against apartheid.
Published on the web by Star on October 19, 2007.
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