Shimmy Mofokeng, veteran actor and Soweto socialite, is dead.

Mofokeng was gunned down near his Mulbarton home on Monday evening.

His brother, Thapelo Mofokeng said his brother was returning home from his business in Orlando, Soweto, when the incident happened.

A man told them what happened. "He told us Shimmy witnessed some men stealing a neighbour's car and he tried to reverse, but they had already seen him and they started shooting."

Mofokeng was hit in the chest and lost control of his car.

"The car rolled and crashed into a nearby house."

Mofokeng owned a shebeen in Orlando East, Soweto.

All his sister Sabi Mofokeng could say about his death was: "If we knew how we were going to die we would always postpone".

He played in popular dramas including Deliwe, Shout at the Devil and was also casted for the first Sesotho drama series Mampodi.

He is survived by his wife, three children, sisters and brothers. - Kamogelo Seekoei