JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- South African soccer team captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead late Sunday near Johannesburg, local police spokesman said Sunday.

Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale said Meyiwa, 27, was gunned down at a house in Vosloorus, a township about 30 kilometers south of the city, and declared dead on admission to hospital.

"We can confirm that Bucs (Pirates) goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa has been shot and sadly declared dead on arrival at hospital," the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on its Twitter feed.