While there are currently few confirmed details, South African media organisation Moneyweb reported Kebble was on his way to a business associate's home for dinner when the incident occurred.

Kebble was said to have been shot five times in his Mercedes 600 SLK at around 9:30pm South African.

Kebble recently resigned as chief executive of Western Areas, Randgold & Exploration and JCI Group.

Kebble's resignation from Randgold was made around the time the company made a filing to the Nasdaq Exchange suggesting that more than 1 billion Rand worth of its shares had "disappeared"

Announcing his resignations last month, Kebble said the delay in commissioning the South Deep Twin Shaft complex has resulted in "severe consequences for Western Areas and JCI Group" as well as straining the company's relationship with partner Placer Dome.