South Africa reggae star Lucky Dube has been shot dead in Johannesburg.

The 43 year old South African star was with his two children when car-jackers tried to hijack his car at around 8pm last night (October 18) in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosettenville.

Dube had just dropped off his two teenage children, a son and daughter aged 15 and 16, when the car-jackers attacked. The children were unhurt but the attackers fled the scene.

Dube was the only South African ever signed to Motown Records.

Born Lucky Philip Dube in 1964 the South African star was named Lucky by his mother because he was not expected to survive the birth.

A popular live performer on world music festivals, Lucky Dube also recorded more than 20 albums during his career in English, Zulu and Afrikaan.

He has won over 20 awards for his music internationally.

Police are searching for the killers. In South Africa, more than 20,000 people are murdered annually.