President Jacob Zuma led tributes to the 27-year-old goalkeeper, who was hit in the chest at the home of girlfriend Kelly Khumalo – a singer and celebrity – in a township near Johannesburg. Police offered a reward of 250,000 South African rand (£14,125) for information about the three suspects.

“We mourn the death of this young footballer and team leader whose life has been taken away at the prime of his career,” Zuma said on Monday. “The law enforcement authorities must leave no stone unturned in finding his killers and bring them to justice. Words cannot express the nation’s shock at this loss.”

The shooting on Sunday night came after a tumultuous week that saw one-time South African sporting hero Oscar Pistorius jailed for culpable homicide and Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, a former world 800-metre champion, killed in a car crash.

It also highlighted a resurgence in violent crime in South Africa, which had appeared to be beating the problem when it successfully hosted the football World Cup in 2010. Official figures for April 2013 to March 2014 show that the murder rate increased by 5%, attempted murder went up by 4.6%, aggravated robbery was up by 12.7%, and common robbery increased 0.6%. More than 17,000 people were murdered over the year, an average of 46 per day.

Police said two men entered Khumalo’s house in the Vosloorus township at about 8pm local time. There were seven people inside. Meyiwa was shot in his upper body after moving towards the door where another person was struggling with one of the attackers. He was taken to hospital but died on arrival.


South African forensic investigators enter the home of actress and singer Kelly Khumalo in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg. Photograph: AP
A third assailant waited outside the house and all three fled on foot immediately after the shooting. They stole one mobile phone, which did not belong to Meyiwa but happened to be within easy reach.

Police have opened a multidisciplinary task team investigation into the murder and burglary, and have no evidence that Meyiwa was the target of a contract killing.

General Riah Phiyega, the national police commissioner, described it as a tragic case and “very unpalatable situation”. She said two suspects were believed to be in their late 20s and one in his early 30s. One is reported to be “tall, slender, dark skinned with dreadlocks” while another is “short, dark and well-built”.

She appealed to the community to assist with information that would lead to their arrest. “We believe that someone, somewhere, somehow knows about this crime,” Phiyega said.

Aware of worldwide media scrutiny, Phiyega admitted: “This type of loss does not augur well for our brand and image out there, so it is important for us to ensure that, when we have those type of spoilers in our society, we as police go out there and bring about their arrest and incarceration.

“We wish to assure the nation that we as police will not leave any stone unturned as we investigate this matter. We are giving it our all.”

Last week, Jackson Mthembu – a high-profile MP for the governing African National Congress – was shot while withdrawing money from a cash machine. He was taken to hospital where he is recovering.

Phiyega denied that the security gains made at the time of the World Cup had been squandered. “I don’t believe there [are] many losses or things to be lamented. We’ve become better as a country in our policing. We’ve improved significantly in many things.”

Police cordoned off the street leading to Khumalo’s house on Monday morning as a forensic team conducted its investigation.

Pictures of Khumalo returning home, carrying the couple’s 10-month-old daughter, Thingo, appeared in South African media. Reports said Meyiwa was married to another woman when he met Khumalo and their relationship had been on and off over the past two years.


Kelly Khumalo, girlfriend of the Bafana Bafana captain. Their relationship had been on and off over the past two years, according to media reports. Photograph: AP
Fikile Mbalula, minister of sport and recreation, urged anyone with relevant information to come forward. “We humbly encourage all individuals who have any information on the whereabouts of these thugs to cooperate fully with the police on the urgent apprehension of these shameless individuals,” he said.

“We urge the police to leave no stone unturned in apprehending the thugs as a matter of urgency. Our society will never be at peace until the suspects have been arrested and been brought under the wrath of the country’s legal system.”

Meyiwa captained South Africa in their last four matches in the African Nations Cup qualifiers without conceding a goal and played on Saturday when his club, the popular Orlando Pirates from Soweto, advanced to the semi-finals of the South African league cup.

Irvin Khoza, chairman of Pirates, said: “This is a sad loss whichever way you look at it to Senzo’s family, his extended family, Orlando Pirates and to the nation.”

South Africa team coach Ephraim Mashaba comforted several of Meyiwa’s team-mates who arrived at the hospital shortly after the shooting. Darren Keet, the national team’s second goalkeeper, tweeted: “When does it STOP South Africa? When do we STOP just ‘moving on’? Take control of our country for all our people.”

Dean Furman, another of Meyiwa’s team-mates, tweeted: “Beyond devastated at the loss of our captain & friend Senzo Meyiwa. Thoughts & prayers are with his family & friends at this terrible time.”

Solly Malatsi, shadow sports minister for the opposition Democratic Alliance, said: “As a captain of Bafana Bafana, he was a national symbol to every single South African. Losing him will be sorely felt by all … No effort must be spared to track down his murderers and prosecute them.”