afrol News, 22 October - Johannesburg police on Sunday arrested five suspects in connection with the murder of South Africa's reggae king, Lucky Dube.

The 43-year-old music star was shot dead in a car hi-jacking on Thursday night as he dropped off his teenage children from school in Rosettenville, Johannesburg.

The suspects, aged between 31 and 35, were arrested in Spruitview on the East Rand on Sunday morning.

Eugene Opperman, the police spokesperson said two handguns and a VW Polo allegedly used during the crime were seized by the investigating police. He said police also recovered three other stolen vehicles during the investigation.

"The initial police reports regarding the murder being related to a botched hijacking remain correct," Opperman said.

The suspects will appear before a Johannesburg court on Tuesday. A large-scale investigation mounted by a team of detectives led to the arrest.

The murder of a man described as South Africa's renowned music ambassador has caused shock and disbelief in the country and across the world. He was hailed for using music to preach peace, respect and tolerance.

Millions of people have condemned the death and appealed to the police to track down the killers.

President Thabo Mbeki, who appealed to South Africans to confront the scourge of crime together, said, it is "very, very sad that this happened to an outstanding South African - an outstanding musician, world renowned."

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucka, South African Deputy President praised the reggae star for confronting pertinent social and political issues through music, which brings pain and suffering of many South Africans to the fore.

For Pallo Jordan, South African Arts and Culture Minister, Dube was one of the most "important and relevant" voices that emerged in the 20th century.

"What makes his death more painful is that it happened at a time when government has renewed its pledge to forge a partnership with people, communities and their institutions to fight crime," he said.

Dube\'s unexpected killing resulted shortly after he had just released his 21st album.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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