The young Malamulele D Section matriculant whose life ended tragically when a gunman shot and killed him in his bed last week Tuesday night could not be buried last weekend because of a lack of money.

His grieving mother was relieved when members of the community stretched out their generous hands to support the family in their hour of need. Thanks to the people of Malamulele and Thulamela Municipality, Raymond Shavana will be buried tomorrow (Saturday).

Raymond was shot once in the stomach while sleeping in his room and his assailant disappeared into the night. The Grade 12 pupil at EPP Mhinga High School was described as a committed learner. His mother, Ms Mphephu Maluleke, a domestic worker for a family at Mangondi, said she was struggling financially as she could not continue working since she became ill.

After news of the death of the boy and the plight of the family was made public, the community of Malamulele came to the family´s rescue. The local councillor, Lazarus Baloyi, made several contributions for the burial. The school where the boy received his education also came to the family´s rescue.

During an interview with Mirror, Ms Maluleke said the death of her son had affected her a lot. “I am ill, as you can see, and the death of my beloved son was just like losing a part of me. The fact that I cannot even afford to bury him has added to the pain and suffering I am going through. Now that he can be buried, I am very relieved,” she said.

She said when the tragedy struck, she did not know what to do and where to go and she felt all on her own. She said she last saw her son at 21:00 when he said he was going to sleep as he wanted to wake up early for his morning studies. She said she also went to sleep and at about 23:00, she heard a shot and a scream. “When I asked, he said he had been shot,” she said.

She went to the neighbours who helped her call the police, and when the police and the ambulance arrived, Raymond was dead. "His death has plunged me into a state of despair. He was my only hope for the future and his death means part of me has been cut from my body,” she said.

The principal of EPP Mhinga High, Mr Aubrey Mabasa, said they were working hand in hand with the family to give the pupil a decent burial. "He was a pupil of our school and we could not run away after the tragic death."

According to one of Raymond´s teachers, they knew him "as an ordinary, good pupil and his death shocked us.”

Police spokesperson Lt Col Ronél Otto said no arrests had been made yet.