02 Jun 2022

Kgopa ward residents in Moshupa are reeling in shock after the death of three--year-old Jaone Motlhabane, who reportedly died at the hands of a neighbour last Friday.

 A 38-year-old former soldier, Jacob ‘Jakoba’ Leselamose, is in police custody helping with investigations and is expected to appear before Kanye magistrate court on June 14 to answer for the murder charge.

While police investigations into the matter continue, a sombre mood fills the atmosphere.

 “Motho o re bolaetse ngwana, go botlhoko mo go rona. Ga re itse gore botlhoko jo bo tlaa hela leng,”the deceased’s grandmother, Ms Dikabelo Motlhabane emotionally said, in a trembling voice that they were pained by the death of their child.She related how her grandson unexpectedly met his demise while on a school holiday a day after Ascension Day. 

She recalled how the suspect, who is also a next door neighbour, was involved in a fight with his family that morning and was behaving wildly until the unfortunate incident happened.

While people gathered at his parents’ yard to calm the situation and wrestle for the knife he was waving, Jakoba reportedly went berserk and left the yard and went to his father’s kraal where he found the deceased and others in the company of his (Jakoba) brother.

“He took my child and carried him around until people saw him emerging from his uncle’s hut with no child on sight. I became suspicious when people who had gathered did not allow me or my daughter to come near the scene, and our suspicions were confirmed when the police arrived and found the boy’s lifeless body inside the hut.”

The suspect’s uncle Mr Mookamedi Otsheleng said he was equally shocked when he learnt that the toddler’s lifeless body was found inside his hut, which he used for spiritual healing. He described his nephew’s recent behaviour as strange and troublesome, resulting in a recent call for police intervention.

“He does not stay here, he stays with his wife on the other side. Recently as the family we had to involve the police because he was fighting his parents and siblings. I am deeply in shock that he even committed such a crime in my yard because we were not that close. As a result I have ceased operating from that hut until emotions have settled and I have consulted spiritually,” he explained.

Jakoba’s father, Mr Kelebile Otsheleng described the incident as a horrific one that had left the neighbourhood in utter shock and sadness. He concurred with his brother that the suspect had been displaying a rowdy and disrespectful behaviour.

“We don’t know him, he has been away for many years and we did not know his whereabouts. He only came back last year and told us he has been staying in Zambia after he left BDF. What he has done is very painful to us, we really loved that small boy.” Meanwhile, the toddler will be buried on Saturday. ENDS