‘It’s like my hand has been ripped off’: DJ Mashata’s mum says he was her only child

Rebecca Mabuse – the mother of slain DJ and MC, Peter “Mashata” Mabuse – says its hard to come to terms with the loss of her son.

The 62-year-old was speaking when SABC News and Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, visited her at her home to pay their respects.

MOTIVE FOR MASHATA’S KILLING STILL UNKNOWN

The Mamelodi Sundowns stadium announcer, who was 46 years old, was shot and killed in a hail of bullets in Soshanguve, northwest of Pretoria, in the early hours of Sunday, 21 April. He was returning from a gig at Epozini Lifestyle situated in the same township.

News of Mashata’s murder was confirmed to The South African by Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza. She revealed that murder and attempted murder dockets have been opened.

“[The] shooting involved two men aged 46 and 45 years during the early hours of today [Sunday]. One victim died in hospital while the other was injured,” she said.

“The two victims were driving near TUT (Tshwane University of Technology) in Soshanguve when shots were fired at their vehicle. The suspects fled and police are following several leads.”

Police said his killing is being treated as one of their top priority cases. The motive for the shooting is unknown at this stage.

MOTHER OPENS UP ABOUT HER ONLY SON’S MURDER

Speaking to SABC News, the broadcaster’s mother said she still feels like it is all a bad joke.

“It’s still a question mark to me, that he is not gone, maybe he’s around. It is so painful,” she said, before calling for justice.

“Let it not just be interviews, let it not a visit of the premier to my house or the councillor to my house. Let it be that justice is served.”

Mashata, who was also a Tshwane University of Technology employee, was his mother’s only child. Also known as “The Noisemaker” or “Msindo Maker”, the soul music DJ had one adoptive child.

“He was always a smiley boy… he was very supportive. I’ve got two hands, it’s like one of my hands has been ripped off,” the heartbroken mother explained.

MASHATA’S MUM BLAMES POLICE

According to EyeWitness News, Mashata’s mother also attributed her son’s death to the failures of police.

“They come here when there’s a scene, but you’ll never see them running around and protecting. There’s so much crime happening, and we are crying on the government but as a society, we know the culprit, [so] why can’t we help the police?”

Mabuse also urged community members to stop tipping off the culprits, as it interferes with police investigations.

“Where is that ‘ubuntu’ in this country?

“When an official such as [Panyaza] Lesufi announced that he is coming or the police are doing their searches, someone will tip off these culprits,” the Pretoria Rekord quoted her as saying.