13 Nov 2017

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso has condemned the recent gruesome killing of two children by a 21-year-old man at Sehunou.

Ms Tshireletso said this at a joint funeral service of a seven-year-old girl, Atlasaone Motsepani and six-year-old girl, Goitsemodimo Eredu, which was held at Sehunou cemetery this week.

It is not a secret that this senseless act of killing is as a result of the use of drugs,” she noted.

She indicated that, of recent, most people’s lives and future had been destroyed due to drug abuse.

“We have lost educated minds and brilliant people who are now mentally disturbed due to drugs. We have to curb drug usage,” she said.

Ms Tshireletso called out to the residents of Sehunou to change their mindset, rebuild themselves as a community, as the village had recorded several cases of senseless killing cases, which was now becoming a norm.

“I am shocked and saddened by this senseless act. Such action will never be tolerated,” she said.

He criticised the act and noted that alcohol had for a long time been present in the community, but elders never performed such killings.

“On behalf of the government, my ministry, and myself, I would like to pass message of condolences to the families of the bereaved, this came so soon and unexpectantly as we were hoping for more on these young people,” she said.

Ms Tshireletso said it was disheartening as lives had not been lost as a result of an accident, but as a result of delinquencies bedevilling ‘our’ people.

She however promised that government would continue providing psychological therapy for the families involved and those affected by the incident.

“Government has assisted towards the burial and we will ensure that we continue to provide therapy to the affected,” she said.

For his part, Councillor for Sehunou, Motshegaletau, Mabuo, Mr Gabaipone Malau said it was disheartening and worrying as the level of delinquencies among the youth was on the rise in his ward.

He noted that the village had grown and as such needed the headman of arbitration.

“Our headman is not capacitated to discharge the duties. We conduct our cases at Motshegaletau and Moiyabana. This is a setback for our village,” he said.

The Criminal Investigation Department in Serowe, Assistant Superintendent Febion Alomani said on October 31, they received two cases of children who were stabbed to death. One girl died instantly while the other was certified dead on arrival at Sekgoma Memorial Hospital.

He said a 21-year-old man, Goitsemodimo Kothao was implicated in the incident, as he was then chased and beaten to death by the mob.

Mr Alomani said the police had not established what might had led to the gruesome killing of the children.

“The police are still conducting investigations, a case of murder had been opened for those implicated in the killing of Kothao.

We would like to advise the public to reduce intake of alcohol as mostly such cases arise as a result of alcohol,” he said. BOPA