Police Intensify Search For Lucky Dube's Killers

Nigerian Tribune

Police Intensify Search For Lucky Dube’s Killers

20.10.2007

South African police said on Friday it was intensifying the search for gunmen that killed South African reggae star, Lucky Dube, on Thursday.


Dube, 43, was killed in Johannesburg’s Rossettenville suburb in front of his son and daughter.


Police spokesman, Eugene Opperman, who described the murder as “one of the high-profile murders in the country,” said they tried to take his vehicle.


“They allegedly tried to take his vehicle, but then shots were fired and he was fatally wounded,” Opperman said.


The murder of South Africa’s biggest selling reggae singer cast a pall over the national mood a day before the country’s rugby union team faces England in the World Cup final.


Police earlier said Dube was dropping his son off when the attack took place.


Some callers to radio stations said the South African team should play wearing black armbands as a sign of mourning for Dube.


South Africa has one of the world’s worst murder rates and the number of rapes, carjackings, assaults and violent crime is on the rise while violent crimes rose sharply last year despite the effort of the police.


Dube recorded more than 20 albums in his career and won over 20 awards locally and internationally. He had just completed a month-long tour of the United States.


His first album, released in 1984 with the title, Rastas Never Die, was banned by the country’s apartheid government.


During his career, he performed across the world and shared the stage with music stars such as Sinead O’Connor, Peter Gabriel and Sting among others.


Paul Boateng, Britain’s Ambassador to South Africa, said he was shocked by Dube’s death.


Boateng said, “My wife and I are big fans. It is a great loss to music internationally.”