Family knew about MaR5's death on social media

The family of the slain Itumeleng Mosoeu, also knowns as Vusi MaR5, learned about his death via social media.

The popular Tshwane music producer and DJ, was killed in the early hours of Monday outside Zola's Place in Soshanguve Ext 3 while out with friends. While the motive of his murder remains unknown, however, the incident has shaken those close to him and in the music industry as it follows the murder of amapiano pioneer, musician and businessman Oupa "DJ Sumbody" Sefoka who was killed in similar fashion late last year. 

Vusi MaR5 was known as the king of Barcadi music, a genre that is popular in the townships of Tshwane and surrounding areas. 

His younger brother Koketso, also known as DJ Cooper, told Sowetan on Monday that most of his relatives found out about the incident through social media. 

He and the deceased had just returned from a gig in Limpopo on Sunday morning and were due for a performance at Vicks Pub, also in Soshanguve, on Sunday night. They spent the rest of the day going between different venues in Mabopane and Soshanguve until someone suggested they go to Zola's Place around midnight. 

The venue was hosting a social club (stokvel) whose members were also friends of the deceased. 

Mosoeu said he left his brother inside and decided to go and rest in his car parked a few meters from his sibling's.

"I was then woken up by a group of people who told me that they have just seen on Twitter that someone who could be my brother had just been shot and I must go with them to identify the body," said Mosoeu. 

"I am shuttered I cannot explain the depth of pain I feel in my heart and I do not even know how I'm going to heal from what I saw."

He further said his cousin, who was in another pub nearby, told him that there was an public announcement shortly and a moment of silence for VusimaR5 and this sparked the #RIPVusimaR5 on Twitter moments later. 

Vusi MaR5's aunt, Easter Mnisi, said the family was traumatised. 

"We are hurting. No words can explain how shuttered we are but we beg South Africans to please respect people who have passed away. I hope we are the last family that had to suffer from hearing such tragic news through social media," she said.

Mnisi said she introduced Vusi MaR5 to social clubs in 2015 where he would make announcements on stage and also composed random songs to entertain the crowd. 

"The name Vusi MaR5 started after he had placed R5 coins on his brown leather belt to give to kids. He would sometimes burn bank notes on stage while performing and when we reprimanded him he said he wanted to be famous," said Mnisi.

Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Sello said no suspects have been arrested and the investigation for a case of murder was ongoing.