Meyiwa, who played for Orlando Pirates, was shot dead when intruders entered his girlfriend's house in Vosloorus, a town 20 miles south of Johannesburg. According to the South African Police Service, two men entered the house, around 20:00 (18:00GMT), while a third man remained outside.

All three fled after shots were fired, in what local media reports say was an attempted burglary. The South African goalkeeper was reportedly shot in the chest at his girlfriend's house in Vosloorus.

'We can confirm that Bucs (Pirates) keeper Senzo Meyiwa has been shot and sadly declared dead on arrival at hospital,' the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on its twitter feed.