Rising violence in Vhembe taverns claims another life

LIMPOPO – The death of Morgan Raulinga (41) on 28 January at a tavern in Maila village has raised many questions about the rising number of killings at or around liquor outlets. Raulinga was shot at the entrance to the tavern, after which the attacker fled.

A witness to the killing, who preferred to remain anonymous, said they were at the liquor outlet at the time of the incident. “We were having a good time when we suddenly heard gunshots next to the door of the outlet. It must have been more than five shots. We saw the man with the gun in his hand and realised that someone had been shot,” the man said.

The witness added that the killer had run away after the shooting but had later been handed over to the police.

Vhembe police spokesperson WO Vuledzani Dathi confirmed the incident, saying the victim had been identified as a local resident. According to Dathi, they had been summoned to the scene following reports of a shooting. “Upon arrival, we found a male victim with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of emergency medical personnel, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene,” he said.

Dathi said that preliminary information indicated that the two men had argued. The victim was shot several times at point-blank range before the killer fled the scene.

The deceased’s father, Jacky Raulinga, said he had gone to the scene of the crime soon after hearing that Morgan had been shot. Upon his arrival, he found him lying in a pool of blood. He said the family was still trying to come to terms with the tragic incident.”We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. It is really unacceptable what happened, and we hope that the suspect responsible for his death will face the full might of the law.”

Morgan was buried at Maila on Saturday.