14 Sep 2017

Councillor for Mmopane, Mr James Lekgetho has strongly called upon the village leadership to come together and find a lasting solution on problems, especially incidences of suicide affecting the village. 

Councillor Lekgetho made the appeal during the funeral of one of the village youth, Mr Thato Molefe, who committed suicide last week Thursday leaving no message behind. There is strong believe among villagers that one particular lady is responsible for his death. 

Dube is the fourth suicide known victim in the village in less than six months and to this end councillor Lekgetho said the village was under a bad spell, which needed to be cleansed of before things went out of  hand. 

The councillor said though it was difficult to openly state what could be the cause of suicides among the youthful men in the village, it was evident that everybody knows what the primary cause of such deaths was and therefore called on the leadership to take appropriate steps before the village was plunged into bloodshed. 

Councillor Lekgetho said he did not want to envisage Mmopane village going up in flames as that may results in loss of property. 

He therefore urged residents, especially the youth to attend his kgotla meeting, which is scheduled for Friday September 15 at the main kgotla, where various problems affecting the village would be discussed at length and possibly come with a solution. 

Meanwhile, he said parents should know their children’s movements and the people they associates with and those that they befriend as that would help parents to offer assistance to them immediately they realised that their children had a problem. 

Dube, who was born in 1987, hanged himself from the rafters of his family house at around 3pm on September 7 after sneaking into the house leaving others outside. 

The rather unrehearsed Dube, who was known throughout the village as he did odd jobs, is a former player for the once famed Sweet XI Football Club.

 His best friend, Mr Tumelo Gubuamang recalled their good old times when they would shave their heads in the middle depicting old men and putting on over sized t-shirts to amuse spectators during football games. 

In the meantime headman of arbitration for the ward, Mr Olifile Masimola also expressed worry over suicide tendencies among the youth, noting that it was surprising that the elderly were not involved in this act. 

He therefore urged parents to befriend their children so that they could share their problems and assist promptly wherever a thorny situation arose. 

One of Dube’s uncles, Mr Kenneth Mmipi noted that although his nephew was at times mischievous he was always ready to listen when reprimanded. 

Dude, who completed his junior certificate in 2005 at Ledumadumane Junior Secondary School, leaves behind his father and a sister. BOKHUTLO