South Africa’s national soccer goalkeeper and captain Senzo Meyiwa (picture) has been shot dead by burglars during a break-in, a killing that shocked the country and turned the spotlight once again on gun violence in the region.

At an emotional news conference yesterday, Meyiwa’s colleagues paid tribute to the 27-year-old, who was hit by a single round in the chest on Sunday night as he confronted two intruders at the home of actress and singer Kelly Khumalo.

Meyiwa, who was shot in Vosloorus township southeast of Johannesburg, was dead on arrival at hospital, police said.

His death highlighted the problem of gun violence in South Africa only days after Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius was jailed for five years for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year.

This weekend’s Johannesburg derby between Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates – the club Meyiwa joined as a 13-year-old and ended up leading – was postponed as a mark of respect.The derby is usually played in front of 90,000 fans.

“Don’t think such a good man as Senzo can go and vanish. His spirit will live,” said Shakes Mashaba, coach of the Bafana Bafana side.

“He would always be the leader.”

Meyiwa captained South Africa in their last four matches in the African Nations Cup qualifiers without conceding a goal and played on Saturday when Pirates advanced to the semi-finals of the South African League Cup.

Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza said the club, which was founded in 1937 by the children of migrant workers drawn to Johannesburg’s gold mines, was devastated by the killing.