South African police have launched a major manhunt to find the killers of national football captain Senzo Meyiwa, shot dead by suspected burglars.

They have offered a reward of 250,000 rand (£14,000; $23,000) for information about the attack, which highlights the country's high rates of violent crime.

Meyiwa, 27, was reportedly shot after men entered his girlfriend's house.

President Jacob Zuma led tributes to the goalkeeper, saying "words cannot express the nation's shock".

Police said two men had entered the house in Vosloorus, south of Johannesburg, at around 20:00 (18:00 GMT), demanding mobile phones and valuables. A third man remained outside.

One of the two was described by police as tall, dark-skinned and slender with dreadlocks, and the other was said to be short, dark-skinned and well-built.

 

National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega told a press conference that Meyiwa was shot once in the upper body as he moved towards the door. The three men then fled on foot, she said.

The footballer was declared dead on arrival at hospital.

Relatives and fans gathered at the hospital and at the crime scene outside the home of well-known singer and actress Kelly Khumalo, who Meyiwa had been dating.

South African President Jacob Zuma said in a statement on Monday: "We mourn the death of this young footballer and team leader whose life has been taken away at the prime of his career. Words cannot express the nation's shock at this loss."

'Senzo is everything'

Ephraim Mashaba, head coach of South Africa's football team, wept during a news conference on Monday, telling reporters: "Senzo is a team player, Senzo is everything."

His words were echoed by South Africa midfielder Dean Furman who told the BBC that Meyiwa was "just the nicest guy you could wish to meet".

The player's agent, Mike Makaab, called the death "a huge shock" and said Meyiwa was "really a hero in everybody's eyes".

The South African football league has cancelled next weekend's derby between his club, Orlando Pirates, and their rivals Kaiser Chiefs as a mark of respect.

 Investigators worked outside the scene of the shooting in the Vosloorus township on Monday

His death is the second blow to South Africa's sporting community in three days. On Friday, former 800m world champion runner Mbulaeni Mulaudzi was killed in a car crash.

The shooting has once again highlighted South Africa's high crime rates and problems with gun violence.

Between April 2013 and March 2014, more than 17,000 people were murdered in South Africa, an increase of about 5% since the previous year, according to police figures.