Funeral for SA's shot reggae star

Lucky Dube had sung about his country's crime problem

The funeral for murdered South African reggae star Lucky Dube has taken place at his farm near the town of Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal province.

Rastafarians and followers of his African Shembe Christian Church were among large crowds at a public funeral service before a private burial.

The singer was shot dead on 18 October in Johannesburg in what police called a botched car-jacking attempt.

A memorial service in Johannesburg on Wednesday was packed with mourners.

Crime wave

At Sunday's funeral, local musicians and fans from across Africa sang hymns, while Dube's wife Zanele and children broke down in tears as one of his best-known songs was played over a loudspeaker, the Reuters news agency reported.

As well as his family, representatives of his church and friends from across Africa, Britain and the United States also attended the funeral.

Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade sent the family a message of condolence, as did British pop star Peter Gabriel.

Gabriel paid tribute to the "extraordinary" talent of Dube, who sold millions of albums around the world in a career that spanned two decades.

Lucky Dube was one of South Africa's most loved and respected stars who often spoke out against crime.

South Africa's crime wave cost an estimated 20,000 lives in the past year.

Police have arrested five men in connection with the killing.