South African footballer Luke Fleurs has been shot dead in a car hijacking, police say.
The shooting took place at a petrol station on Wednesday night in the Johannesburg suburb of Florida.
The 24-year-old Kaizer Chiefs star was waiting to be attended to when he was approached by unknown gunmen, who ordered him to get out of the vehicle.
One of the suspects is reported to have fled the scene with Fleurs’ car after the shooting.
“The suspects pointed [at] him with a firearm and took him out of his vehicle, then shot him once on the upper body,” Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo told local media.
The former Under-23 international represented South Africa at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
He had not yet played for the senior national team but was reported to be nearing his debut.
On their website, Kaizer Chiefs describe Fleurs as a “classy defender” with “great technical abilities”.
Kaizer Chiefs, one of the most popular clubs in the country and 12-time league champions, described his death as “tragic”.
The club said police were handling the matter and further details would be communicated in due course.
Sports Minister Zizi Kodwa said he was “saddened that yet another life has been cut short due to violent crime”.
Asaase Radio 99.5 broadcasts on radio via 99.5 in Accra, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 100.3 in Cape Coast and on our affiliates Azay FM 89.1 in Takoradi, Bead FM 99.9 in Bimbilla, Mining City 89.5 in Tarkwa, Sissala Radio 96.3 in Tumu, Somuaa FM 89.9 in Gushegu, Stone City 90.7 in Ho and Wale FM 106.9 in Walewale
Tune in to broadcasts online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
Live streaming on facebook.com/asaase99.5. Also on YouTube: AsaaseXtra.
Join the conversation. Call: 020 000 9951 or 0548888995. Or WhatsApp: 020 000 0995.
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand
#WeAreHere
#WeLoveOurLand
