Though it won't bring the beloved Reggae star back, Lucky Dube's family and fans can be comforted by the lifetime sentence doled out on Tuesday to the three men who killed him in 2007.

Judge Seun Moshidi of the South Gauteng High Court, convicted Sifiso Mhlanga, 34 (the shooter), Julius Ngxowa, 32, and Mbuti Mabe, 31, on charges of murder, attempted robbery and other crimes. Hours before the verdict was announced, Mabe and Mhlanga assaulted police officers in a foiled bid to escape from the court.

The judge on Thursday also handed down 15-year jail sentences on the three for the hijack attempt, and 18-year sentences for robbing another person of his car two days later. Mabe was sentenced to 18 years for stealing the getaway car.

Thokozani Dube, who was in the car when his father was shot, broke into tears as the sentences were announced and was comforted by his mother. Later, family members and their supporters gathered outside the courthouse and sang South Africa's national anthem.

Life imprisonment is the maximum sentence that can be imposed in South Africa. The new constitution negotiated after liberation in 1994 outlawed the death penalty, which until then had mostly been imposed on black South Africans without enough money to pay for their own defence.

Dube, who launched his career in the 1980s with criticism of the apartheid regime, went on to become a huge international star. He recorded more than 20 albums and shared stages with the likes of Michael Jackson, Peter Gabriel, Ziggy Marley and Sting

I was fortunate to meet him when he came to Houston for the Reggaefest and later that same year for a reschedule of the said concert. So of course it was a shock to hear that a month later he was murdered. I was so nervous to interview him, I had been told that he did not give interviews and be very prepared. But it was awesome and I am so glad that I had this moment as someone in the media field and as a fan. I am glad that these guys are in jail what makes this whole story sad yet amazing at the same time is the killers did not know who the had slain (that's the bad part-like regular people don't deserve a chance at life), and Luky Dube's life was a study in humility (that's the amazing part, he saw himself as a regular guy).

God BlessYou Lucky!

Performing at Nelson Madela's 90th birthday celebrations

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Eddy Grant will next month perform in South Africa for the first time; all part of his promotional tour for his new album Road to Reparation. One of his popular songs is "Gimme Hope J’oanna" (Johannesburg) which has become an anti-apartheid anthem. Last year he performed at Nelson Mandela’s 90^th birthday concert in London’s Hyde Park with the band that backed the late Lucky Dube (god rest his soul). They will back him up at his performance in Cape Town next month.

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South African singer and Reggae music legend Lucky Dube was murdered in a failed carjacking last year. On October 21st, 3 days after the 1 yr anniversary of his death, Rykodisc released the 2 disc album Retrospective. It is available on sites like amazon and cduniverse

Disc 1: Includes favorites like "Rastas Never Die", and "Prisoner"

Disc 2: Has songs like "Back To My Roots", "House of Exile", "It's Not Easy"

Fans will also get the accompanying bonus DVD, featuring a 90-minute concert, “Lucky Dube Live In Concert,” plus five music videos never before released in the U.S.

the following was obtained from www.iol.co.za

Only four of the five men arrested in connection with the murder of South African reggae great Lucky Dube could be linked to the killing, police said on Monday.The four would appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges of murder, attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, said Superintendent Eugene Opperman.A fifth man arrested with them would appear in the Katlehong magistrate's court on a charge related to the possession of suspected stolen property, he said.Dube, 43, was shot dead during an apparent botched hijacking while dropping his two teenage children at his brother's house in Rosettenville on Thursday night.
Police arrested the five - aged 31 to 35 - in Spruitview, on the East Rand, on Sunday morning.They seized two stolen handguns and a Volkswagen Polo thought to have been used in the crime. They later confiscated another three vehicles, which were believed to be stolen.A funeral service for Dube will be held in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday. A memorial service will be held at the Bassline in Newtown on Wednesday at 9am. - Sapa

LUCKY DUBE’S record label Gallo mourns the tragic loss of the reggae legend.

Lucky was slain in an attempted hijacking in Rosettenville in Johannesburg last night, at approximately 8pm, whilst dropping off his children at a family members house. Although Lucky attempted to escape the scene, he had been fatally wounded from the hijacker’s attempt to steal his motor vehicle, and he died almost instantly.Senseless and random, the death of Lucky Dube leaves a great void in the music industry, as 25 years of music suddenly ends in tragedy.

South African born but globally revered, Lucky Dube was one of the country’s most toured and beloved artists ever. His music touched millions around the world, primarily through his 22 recorded albums - in Zulu, English and even Afrikaans - many of which have been record breakers with phenomenal sales from around the globe.As a frontline artist in the reggae genre, Lucky's creativity and inventiveness kept growing.Compelling in his musicianship and intriguing in his lyrical content, Lucky's sonic daring to take his genre to new heights never failed to amaze even the most ardent fans, whilst reigning in new devotees to his magic every day.

His energetic band toured with him from continent to continent as South African musical ambassadors, and his live performances have earned him fans and accolades the world over.Lucky joined Teal Records (later to become Gallo) as a fresh-faced young Mbaqanga singer in 1982. Five albums later he found a genre that spoke to his soul and changed the way he viewed the world. This genre was Reggae.

With his long-time sound engineer and best friend Dave Segal, he created some of the most legendary pieces of reggae music ever recorded, including the tracks Prisoner, Taxman, Slave, Victims, Together As One and Respect – all social anthems that garnered him the adoration of the people of his country - and across the globe.Lucky was an artist that continued to break international barriers and recently just signed a deal with Warner Music International, securing him album releases across Europe of his latest album Respect.Ivor J. Haarburger, CEO of Gallo Music Group is deeply saddened by the loss.

“Lucky was not just an extraordinary artist, he was a personal friend. We go back over twenty years and had both a business and personal relationship. It’s so sad to lose such a great friend and so tragically, why?”

There are very few words that capture the magnitude of this devastating loss. As a musician, father and colleague, Lucky was one of the most charming, respected, selfless and dedicated people to have lived. He will be sorely missed.Lucky Dube was survived by his new wife Zanele and his 7 children Bongi, Nonkululeko, Thokozani, Laura, Siyanda, Philani and his brand new three-month old baby Melokuhle.  Should you wish to send a message of condolence to Lucky’s family, please email Lucky@gallo.co.za or fax on +27 (0) 11 340 9471

Lucky Dube, Ky-Mani Marley Collie Buddz, Denise Belfon will headline Houston RggaeFest, other performers include Robert Minott, Major Riley and Contagious Band.

Reggae Carifest will be taking place Saturday August 25th, in Randalls Island, NY. Performers include Sean Kingston and his uncle Buju Banton, Ninja Man, Luky Dube, Third World, Yellow man and Djakout Mizik.