The family of Orange Farm tavern owner, who shot and killed seven people on Sunday before turning the gun on himself, have fled the community amid concerns over retaliation.
The community is angry over Juju Rodney Mathebula’s actions, which marred the Matsiona family’s lobola celebrations after he burst into their home and gunned down family members.
On that fateful night, eyewitnesses allege that Mathebula stormed out of his tavern after an altercation with patrons.
He then returned with a firearm, wreaking havoc on the community.
Fortunate Matsiona, a 24-year-old survivor, recounts waking up to the sound of gunshots.
In that moment, he says, his world changed forever.
The tragedy unfolded after Matsiona’s brother, Innocent, celebrated a successful lobola negotiation.
Innocent and his brother-in-law, only referred to as Mbatha, decided to continue the festivities at the nearby tavern.
However, things took a deadly turn when Mathebula refused to sell them alcohol.
Matsiona, the sole adult survivor of the tragic incident, is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his three-year-old son, who was shot and killed in cold blood right before his eyes.
His mother, 50-year-old Petronella, also succumbed to her injuries.
Other survivors have also shared harrowing accounts of playing dead to save their lives during the rampage.
According to Matsiona, Mathebula was known for his brutality, regularly threatening patrons with his firearm.
Just hours before the shooting spree, he had allegedly shot a local dog. Juju Mathebula later died in the hospital after turning the gun on himself.
YNews visited his abandoned home after his family fled the township due to threats of retaliation from the community.
Residents are now on high alert, patrolling the bereaved family’s home amid concerns of escalating violence.
Forensic and Crime expert, Calvin Rafadi, has linked the deadly trend of mass shootings in South Africa to the government’s failure to curb unlicensed and homemade firearms.
This comes after another recent devastating mass shooting incident in Lusikisiki, which left 18 people dead.
Rafadi attributes the violence to a combination of factors, including the influence of cults and radical traditional leaders, who misleadingly promote murder as a means to spiritual power.
“We need to regulate our religions,” he emphasised. “There are many churches that play a key role in the upbringing of a society,” he added.
He also highlighted substance abuse, particularly alcohol consumption, for escalating quarrels to deadly levels.
According to Gun Free SA, gun violence in the country has increased significantly, with 34 people shot dead daily.
To address this growing concern, Rafadi has urged the government to tackle underlying social issues.
Written by: Naomi Kobbie
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