Reggae star killed in carjacking

SOUTH African reggae star Lucky Dube has been shot and killed in a carjacking.

He died as he tried to drive away and crashed into a car and a tree.

The death of the international star focused attention on South Africa’s murderous crime statistics.

Dube, 43, was shot twice last night in front of his son, whom he was dropping off in Johannesburg’s southern Rosettenville suburb.

Police Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht said: “His son was already out of the car. When he saw what was happening, he ran to ask for help.”

Dube recorded more than 20 albums over more than two decades.

South Africa has one of the worst crime rates in the world, recording an average of 50 murders each day.

Dube’s recording company Gallo Records, paid tribute to its star, quoting chief executive Ivor Haarburger as saying that Dube had a bigger following internationally than in South Africa. The singer switched to reggae style in the 1980s to express his anger against apartheid.