JOHANNESBURG , South Africa ( CNN ) -- Reggae legend Lucky Dube , one of South Africa 's most famous musicians , was killed in an attempted car-jacking as he dropped his children off at a relative 's house , his record label said Friday . Reggae star Lucky Dube was much loved by his fellow South Africans . Dube , 43 , was killed in Johannesburg around 8 p.m. local time Thursday after someone tried to steal his car , Gallo Record Company said in a statement . Police said he was shot . The statement said Dube attempted to escape but died almost instantly from his wounds . Dube was much loved by his fellow South Africans , and his death cast a shadow over festivities ahead of South Africa 's highly-anticipated appearance in the rugby World Cup final with England this weekend . News of his death was the headline in many Friday newspapers , knocking the World Cup off the front pages for the first time in days . Callers to talk radio stations suggested the Springboks wear black armbands in remembrance of Dube when they take to the field Saturday in Paris . Gallo Records called the death `` senseless and random , '' and it was not clear whether Dube 's attackers knew who he was . South Africa is one of the most dangerous societies in the world . Figures from the South African Police Service show that from April 2006 to March 2007 , more than 19,000 South Africans were murdered , more than 52,600 people were raped , and nearly 13,600 people were carjacked . `` It 's very sad , '' said Mark Sutherland , London bureau chief for Billboard Magazine . `` He 's a big loss to the South African music business . ( He was ) one of their most successful artists and certainly one of their leading reggae artists . '' Sutherland said Dube was an extremely respected musician who toured extensively around the world . Dube had just returned from a tour of the United States that stretched from California to New York . His record company said Dube leaves `` a great void '' in the music industry after a 25-year career . Dube recorded 22 albums in Zulu , English and Afrikaans . Born outside Johannesburg in 1964 , Dube was named `` Lucky '' by his mother because he was the first child to be born after several failed pregnancies . Dube started singing in 1982 , joining a band playing Mbaqanga , or traditional Zulu music . It was only later that he began recording reggae tracks as a solo singer , but the genre was to dominate and define the remainder of his career . Ivor Haarburger , the chief exectutive of Gallo Music Group , said he was deeply saddened by the loss . `` Lucky was not just an extraordinary artist , he was a personal friend , '' Haarburger said . `` It 's so sad to lose such a great friend and so tragically . '' Dube is survived by his wife , Zanele , and his seven children : Bongi , Nonkululeko , Thokozani , Laura , Siyanda , Philani and three-month old Melokuhle . E-mail to a friend . CNN correspondent Robin Curnow contributed to this report .
South African reggae legend Lucky Dube killed in attempted hijacking . Dube , 43 , killed Thursday in Johannesburg after hijacker tried to steal his car . Death casts shadow over South Africa 's preparations for rugby World Cup final .