By Karabo Rammutla and Chris Gilili
For patrons who attended Magents social club at a tavern in Soshanguve in Vusi on Saturday night, MaR5’s performance was as electrifying as always.
But load shedding cut the show short and the “Chomi ke Changitse” hitmaker stepped outside to take a call — when a gunshot was heard in the venue, and the artist was found dead.
MaR5’s death, just weeks after popular Tshwane socialite and dancer Lesego Sonti was shot dead in Mabopane, has sent fear through the music industry.
A musician who did not want to be named said it will be hard to perform at events after MaR5’s killing. Until they know what is happening they will not feel safe, he said.
“This is a second killing at a stokvel and whoever is doing this is watching our every move. We need to know why they’re doing this. Right now we’re in the dark,” he said.
A dancer who collaborated with MaR5, whose real name is Itumeleng Mosoeu, said jealousy could be behind the killings.
“A lot of money exchanges hands during these stokvels. And everyone can see how much a person went home with. It could be jealousy as both Sonti and MaR5 made a lot of money at these stokvels.”
The dancer, who did not want to be named, said the stokvels must stop. “Surely the killings will end if we stop these weekly stokvels,” she said.
Scrolla.Africa visited the singer’s family home in Boekenhout, Mabopane but they refused to comment and referred the publication to Tebogo Molelekeng of Tribal Records, who released a statement confirming the death.
Molelekeng said the details of his passing cannot be disclosed as investigations are still ongoing.
Artist Mpho Tharaga told Scrolla.Africa that he was heartbroken by his close friend’s death and said they were working on something big together.
He was supposed to be a special guest at the Great Times Magazine Awards 2023, nominated in the category “Artist of the Year”.
“His sudden passing is a blow for me… I will forever miss him and his energy. This is so bad and unfortunate,” he said.
Pictured above: Bacardi musician Vusi MaR5 was shot dead in Soshanguve
Image source: Supplied
