'We will be alright,' sings slain Rhythm City actor Dumi Masilela in his final e.tv soap appearance; character to die in off-air hijacking, followed by in-show memorial service.

Last night South Africans viewers saw the last appearance of the Rhythm City character, S'fiso Ngema, who will tragically die in exactly the same real-life hijacking attempt that befell the actor Dumi Masilela in the e.tv weekday soap.

"We will be alright," sang Dumi Masilela behind the mic in the closing scene of Wednesday's episode after which the credits rolled - the last that viewers will see of S'fiso.

Over the next few days Rhythm City characters will suddenly get the awful news that S'fiso was gunned down in a horrific hijacking attempt and is dead.

This will be followed by a special episode next week Wednesday, 18 October that incorporates an on-screen memorial episode, with the actor's mom Sabatha Magdeline and his brother Thabani Masilela who will make special appearances.

Wednesday's episode follows two months after the shock death of Dumi Masilela in an attempted hijacking on 2 August in Tembisa that brought production on the Quizzical Pictures produced soap to a standstil as cast and crew underwent psychological counselling.

To tell S'fiso's exit story, the producers got the family's permission to "re-enact" the abrupt and shocking way that Dumi Masilela died in real-life, with the exit of Sifiso Ngema mirroring what happened to the actor to help focus attention on the scourge of violent crime in South Africa.

Rhythm City said in September that the character of S'fiso Ngema will leave the e.tv soap in the way that Dumi Masilela was murdered, although an actual recreation of the hijacking won't be shown in the soap.

"After extensive consultation with the Masilela family, the producers of Rhythm City have decided to incorporate Dumi Masilela's tragic death into the exit storyline of his character, S'fiso, to highlight the scourge of violence that is sadly so prevalent in South Africa," said the soap that recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.

"The show's producers decided to use Sifiso's exit story as a way to pay tribute to Dumi's work as an actor and to highlight the tragedy of unnecessary violence that plagues our cities," says Rhythm City  producer Yula Quinn.

Rhythm City actor Dumi Masilela dead after car hijacking incident in Tembisa, was shot at while driving with a friend.

The Rhythm City actor and singer, Dumi Masilela (29) is dead with the e.tv actor who died after a car hijacking incident in Tembisa on Wednesday night.

According to police spokesperson Kay Makhubele, Dumi Masilela and his friend were shot at while driving on Wednesday night.

Dumi Masilela in a white Golf 7 at 20:00 on Wednesday night was approached by a black Jeep  -registration number unknown -  that attempted to hijack them.

When they drove off, the hijackers shot towards them. Dumi Masilela was shot in the upper body; they drove off, the friend took over the driving, and took him to hospital.

According to Kay Makhubele, the friend rushed Dumi Masilela to hospital where he died on Thursday morning.

The police is investigating a case of attempted hijacking as well as murder.

The actor who got married in late May to Muvhango actress Simphiwe Ngema, played the role of the street kid Sifiso Ngema since his first appearance in the soap in January 2013.

Following Dumi Masilela's death, TVwithThinus learnt that Rhythm City production completely shut down on Thursday morning with no filming taking place, with the cast and crew in shock.

The Quizzical Pictures produced soap just celebrated the weekday soap's 10th anniversary with a big party two weeks ago and has now been plunged into mourning.

No filming will be taking place for today or Friday, with production that will only resume after the weekend.

e.tv confirmed that “production [on the soap] has wrapped for today and tomorrow”.

The Rhythm City cast and crew will be offered and undergoing trauma counselling once production resumes.

Dumi Masilela's soccer career at SuperSport United got sidelined after a car accident and after three years of rehabilitation he entered the 8th season of M-Net's reality singing competition Idols in 2012 where he made it to the Top 18.

In a statement e.tv says "It is with great sadness that e.tv confirms the passing of Dumi Masilela. He passed in hijacking on Wednesday 2 August. Dumi played the role of Sifiso on Rhythm City for the past 5 years. e.tv sends their condolences to Dumi's family, friends and Rhythm City colleagues".

The minister of arts and culture, Nathi Mthethwa in a tweet said "we send our sincere condolences to Dumi Masilela's wife Simphiwe Ngema, his family, friends & colleagues. You are in our thoughts & prayers."