05 May 2014

Sunday, April 27, 2014 turned into a great day when a once notorious and sleekly Mothei Sejakgomo kneeled down to beg for forgiveness from the Seantsoma family whom he once robbed of their vehicle a decade ago in Shoshong.

The then 23-year-old Sejakgomo, who was this year pardoned by the President Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama for his past deeds, had mischievously taken the Seantsoma’s vehicle without their consent and consequently wrecked it back in 2002.

After serving his punishment up to 2007, the young man, who has since reformed to form an association called Botswana Institute of Rehabilitation and Integration of Offenders (BIRRO), said he had never found peace in his life for the crimes he had committed.

As such, he found it worthy for him to go and beg for forgiveness from his victims some of whom he had robbed of their livestock.

Sejakgomo told the gathering and members who were present at the President Hotel in Gaborone that he was truly sorry for his past and did not know what had actually got into his head to commit such offences.

He said he regarded the Seantsoma family as his parents and as such he found it fitting and proper for him to go and beg for forgiveness from them just like the Biblical prodigal son did.

For their part, the elderly Motobetso Seantsoma and his wife Onalenna said they had whole heartedly forgiven the young man as the Holy Bible encouraged such a gesture.

Onalenna noted that when Sejakgomo knocked on their door after serving his prison term, she thought he had come for yet another mischievous deed.

Meanwhile, a prison official, Mr Wamorena Ramolefe noted that at prison, offenders were rehabilitated and that they did activities that could earn them a living once they completed their sentences. Ramolefe noted that the occasion was one of the rare moments he had ever seen for people reconciling in public.

He said Sejakgomo had since shown some signs of being receptive to rehabilitation through many counselling sessions which they provide.

The prison official was however quick to state that reconciliation should be promoted and encouraged among victims and offenders.  ENDS