24 Jul 2022

Mr Thato Aston, first born child of slain Kopong teacher, Ms Barulaganye Aston says nothing had ever prepared his fsmily for the untimely death of their mother. 

As painful as it was to remember how their mother died, Thato and his siblings will take solace and comfort in remembering how she lived - a beautiful and kind soul.

It was a brisk Thursday morning  of July 14 when the Aston family in Kopong had to confront the grim reality of the heinous crime that sparked a public fury and outcry across the country. 

Their mother Rully, as she was fondly called by her colleagues and family, was found murdered in cold blood at her Mogampane ward home.

Four accused persons in the murder of Ms Aston have been remanded in custody as investigations into the matter are at an early stage. 

The quartet of Oageng Moagi Letsholo, Leufty Gaolemogwe Kosie, Kebaleboge Ntsebe and Outlwile Aston were arraigned before Broadhurst Magistrate Court in Gaborone on July 20.

The deceased, who celebrated her 47^th birthday two days prior to her death, was married to one of the four accused persons, Outlwile Aston. 

Emotions ran high as family and friends crammed the Aston homestead home to pay their last respect to their departed friend, mother and teacher, Saturday morning. 

A sizeable number of mourners sobbed desolately as her coffin was lowered into the ground at the Phomolong Cemetery in Phakalane.

Speaking in an interview after regaining composure and strength to share the sad news, Ms Aston’s 25-year-old son, Thato said, “On Wednesday that week we went to town with my mum to buy electrical appliances and she left me in town.

I arrived home late in the evening. 

I headed straight to the kitchen to collect my food and went to my bedroom in the other house in the yard,” he said.

Thato received an unusual early morning call from his little brother, who was in the same room as his mother. 

“He just said batho ba batla madi ba betsa mama…”

Thato sprang from bed and headed towards the main house. 

He had a spare key of the main house door and quickly unlocked it. 

He got a shock of his life when he saw a large inscription ‘277 DIE’ written with blood on the sitting room wall. 

He opened the bedroom door and found his mother sprawled in a pool of blood.

“I thought I could rush her to hospital. 

My little brother who had called me was hiding in the other room. 

I rushed to the gate and woke the neighbours up. 

I went back to the kitchen, through which they had broken into the house. 

I still had hope that she was alive, but when I saw pieces of lungs in the kitchen basin I lost hope.

I knew that she was gone,” he added.

Mr Gabathuse Molelu, the late Aston’s eldest brother was one of the first people to arrive at the scene after receiving a call from Thato. 

“Upon receiving a call I could hear people screaming and crying and I immediately picked trouble was brewing. 

I rushed to Kopong and a few metres from my sister’s home I spotted a police vehicle. 

Mapodisi phakela o o kana? Fa ke tsena ke fa rre wa lepodisi a nthaa a re golo ha go na le mathata, go lebega bangwe ba tlhasetse mme wa lwapa mme e bile go lebega ba mo tseetse botshelo,” he added.

Mr Molelu was taken inside the crime scene and when he looked at his sister he could tell she was breathless. 

I looked at her face and a deep cut below her breast. 

On close inspection of the room I picked that the perpetrators were not here to steal as the bedroom was intact. 

A purse was lying on the dressing table.

Mr Molelu said he informed police that even if it was too early to make any conclusions on the matter the attack on her sister was by design. 

He said it was a well-planned and carefully orchestrated move that was strategised. 

He said the family was reeling in shock on what could have been the motive behind the senseless killing of their child, but were relying on the wheels of justice.

Mourners took turns before Aston’s burial to describe her good deeds. 

They went down memory lane of her professional teaching career and her love for the church. 

Aston was described as energetic, cooperative and a hard working, selfless individual. 

Aston, who was a Social Studies teacher at Kopong Junior Secondary School, was also  described as a generous teacher who took time to deal with her pupils who loved her back dearly.

Chairperson of Holy Ghost International Church, Ms Lesedi Kgori said their departed church mate was a bold woman and a prayer warrior. 

She said that a lot of people learnt a lot from her. 

Aston is survived by her husband, fthree sons and a daughter, as well as three siblings. ends