South Africa's football captain Senzo Meyiwa has been shot dead near Johannesburg.

Meyiwa, 27, was killed after two armed men entered the house in the Vosloorus township near Johannesburg on Sunday evening while an accomplice waited outside, police said.

Seven people were believed to have been inside the house, including Meyiwa, when the suspects forced their way into the property.

Police said Meyiwa was shot after a row, and the assailants fled.

South Africa's police force tweeted: "There was an altercation and Senzo Meyiwa was shot. The three suspects fled on foot after the shooting.

"We can assure South Africans that we will do all we can to bring Meyiwa's killers to book."

A reward of 150,000 rand (£8,500) has been offered for information leading to an arrest.

Cindy Poluta, sports editor at Eyewitness News in Johannesburg, explains: "Police say that according to neighbours Senzo was at the house of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo.

"Two men came inside and started demanding goods and cell phones. It was when Senzo was trying to defend Kelly, who apparently the gun was being pointed at, when he was shot in the back. Neighbours said they heard three shots but only one of those killed Senzo.

"He was declared dead on arrival at a hospital in Johannesburg and later on in the evening South Africa's national coach was seen comforting fellow team-mates.

Ms Poluta said South Africans waking up to the news had turned to Twitter to express their "utter disbelief and devastation".

Meyiwa's club Orlando Pirates issued a statement on Twitter saying the club "has learned with sadness about the untimely death of our number one goalkeeper and current captain Senzo Meyiwa".

"This is a sad loss whichever way you look at it - to Senzo's family, his extended family, Orlando Pirates and to the nation," Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza said.

Dean Furman, one of Meyiwa's teammates, tweeted: "Beyond devastated at the loss of our captain & friend Senzo Meyiwa. Thoughts & prayers are with his family & friends at this terrible time."

Meyiwa was South Africa's captain in its four qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations this year, including its last game, a 0-0 draw with Republic of Congo on 15 October.

His death is the second to hit South African sports in three days, as former 800-metre world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi was killed in a car crash on Friday.

Originally published at 22:17, October 26th