Lucky Dube Murdered In Botched Carjacking

October 20, 2007

Lucky Dube’s murder throws spotlight on to crime in South Africa
Jonathan Clayton in Johannesburg
Fans reacted with fury yesterday to the murder of Lucky Dube, the biggest reggae star in Africa, who was killed in a botched carjacking attempt on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

Caller after caller, many in tears, rang in to early-morning radio shows to express disgust at the killing and vent their anger at a government that is widely perceived to be doing nothing to fight a crimewave that is out of control. Many said that the high-profile murder had taken the shine off the excitement before the Rugby World Cup final against England today in Paris.

Ivor Haarburger, the CEO of Gallo Records, the star’s recording label, said: “We are in shock: not only me but the whole company. He has been with us for over 20 years. It’s a real tragedy, not only to those in South Africa but also Africa and the rest of the world.” Dube was shot dead in front of his two children at about 8.20pm on Thursday soon after he dropped them off at their uncle’s home in the southern Johannesburg suburb of Rosettenville.

Abigail Kubeka, a fellow musician, said: “I don’t know what to say. A humble person like Lucky Dube dying in this way is very alarming. The death of a musician who preached peace and goodwill through his music has devastated me.”

Police said that Dube, 43, was travelling in a grey Chrysler and had just dropped off his son and daughter, aged 15 and 16, when he was attacked. Three carjackers fired at least three bullets into his body but then fled in a blue Volkswagen without stealing his car. Police have set up a special task force to trace a group of three suspected killers who are believed to be well-known local criminals. They said that the car had rolled down the road a few yards and then hit a tree. “He was declared dead on the scene,” Inspector Lorrain Van Immareck said.

The murder came just as the country was witnessing an outpouring of national pride in the Springbok rugby team and hoping for once to attract headlines other than about crime.

The issue of ever-worsening crime has cut across race lines and led to unprecedented criticism of the Government of President Mbeki. Last year one government minister provoked outrage when he said in parliament that “white whingers” should leave the country if they did not like it. It was seen as a turning point because many blacks and Coloureds then added their voice to criticisms of the Government’s failure to live up to promises to bring crime under control.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), traditionally a strong ally of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), said that it was appalled and outraged at the murder and added its voice to calls for solutions to crime. For years the Government maintained that crime was not as bad as wealthy people claimed, but recently the statistics, such as 50 murders a day and one rape every 40 seconds, have begun to damage investment and alarm big business.

Mr Mbeki, who is often accused of being in denial on the issue, appealed to South Africans to confront the “scourge of crime” together. “This is indeed very, very sad that this happened to an outstanding South African, an outstanding musician,” he said as he was boarding a flight to today’s match in Paris.

Arrests over reggae star's murder

Mon October 22, 2007

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- Five men have been arrested and charged with murder over the shooting of reggae legend Lucky Dube, Johannesburg police said Monday.

The men were arrested Sunday in an area east of Johannesburg and will appear in court on Tuesday, police spokesman Eugene Opperman said.

Along with murder, Opperman said the men were charged with possession of stolen property, a charge unrelated to Dube's death. Opperman said police seized two stolen firearms and four vehicles, including the one used on the night Dube was shot.

The 43-year-old musician was killed Thursday night as a hijacker tried to steal his car, his record company said. Dube was dropping his children off at a relative's house at the time; he attempted to escape but died almost instantly from his wounds, Gallo Record Company said.

Opperman said police were treating the crime as a "botched hijacking," and he would not comment on published reports from Dube's friends that the singer was targeted.

Gallo Records called the death "senseless and random," and it was not clear whether Dube's attackers knew who he was.

South Africa is one of the most dangerous societies in the world. Figures from the South African Police Service show that from April 2006 to March 2007, more than 19,000 South Africans were murdered, more than 52,600 people were raped, and nearly 13,600 people were carjacked.

Dube was one of South Africa's most famous musicians, having toured extensively around the world. He had recently returned from a U.S. tour that stretched from California to New York.

His record company said Dube leaves "a great void" in the music industry after a 25-year career. Dube recorded 22 albums in Zulu, English and Afrikaans.

Born outside Johannesburg in 1964, Dube was named "Lucky" by his mother because he was the first child to be born after several failed pregnancies.

Dube started singing in 1982, joining a band playing Mbaqanga, or traditional Zulu music. It was only later that he began recording reggae tracks as a solo singer, but the genre was to dominate and define the remainder of his career.

He is survived by his wife, Zanele, and his seven children: Bongi, Nonkululeko, Thokozani, Laura, Siyanda, Philani and three-month old Melokuhle.




Reggae star Lucky Dube was much loved by his fellow South Africans.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/22/safrica.death/index.html