Sept. 19 (Bloomberg) -- South African President Thabo Mbeki's bodyguard was shot and killed last night while he slept at his home in Shoshanguve, a township north of Pretoria, according to a news broadcast on ETV.

Captain Francois Ramashile, who was Mbeki's ``close protection officer'' for 13 years, was shot three times, the Johannesburg-based television channel reported today. Ramashile's wife was unharmed and most of his possessions left untouched, ETV said. Police are investigating a case of murder but could not rule out assassination, according to ETV.

The National Executive Committee of South Africa's ruling African National Congress is meeting over the next three days to decide whether it should ask Mbeki to resign following allegations that he tried to charge party leader Jacob Zuma with corruption.

To contact the reporter on this story: Garth Theunissen in Johannesburg gtheunissen@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: September 19, 2008 11:54 EDT