08 May 2025

A woman charged for the killing of her boyfriend’ son almost nine years ago will reject any role in the murder of the then Standard Six Bosele Primary School pupil, her lawyer has said.

The 11-year-old Clifford Mochocho disappeared on March 2, 2016 while going to school and his body was later exhumed at a hill near Mmankgodi, and the police charged his father’s then girlfriend Gaofengwe Selaolo with his murder.

When cross-examining witnesses during Selaolo’s trial at the Lobatse High Court on Tuesday, lawyer Ms Lenah Jere said her client had nothing to do with the murder, contrary to claims by some witnesses who testified to having seen her with the boy on the day he disappeared.

Narrating her testimony, 64-year-old Ms Baromeng Raboenyana testified that around March in 2016 Block 3 in Gaborone she boarded a combi alongside the accused person, whom she did not know.

However, she said she was intrigued when the accused called the deceased, who was walking alongside other learners to school, into the combi they were in at the next stop.

“After the child got in, I then asked her, ‘A lo tla lo kgaogane he?” an enquiry that she said the accused did not bother to respond to.

The accused ignoring her question did not disturb her as she knew neither the accused nor the child, the witness said.

Ms Raboenyana further told the court that she left the duo alongside other passengers when she alighted from the combi at the Main Mall.

Another witness, 42-year-old police officer Mr Mooketsi Mafora said while he had become friends with Selaolo, who was at the time working as a cashier at Spar, he never got to know where she was staying.

Mr Mafora said prior to the disappearance of the child, the accused had asked to borrow a jerrycan from him to buy fuel, which she said she would use in her power backup equipment for her laundry business.

He said though Selaolo brought the jerrycan back after some days, he was surprised when Broadhurst Police officers showed up at his place days later telling him that his jerrycan had been used in the commission of a crime.

 “I was told my jerrycan was part of the things that were used to commit an offence,” he said, adding that the police then seized it. When asked to describe the jerrycan, Mr Mafora although he said he was not certain of its colour, said it was brown.

However, a green jerry can was produced as evidence in court.

When asked to reconcile the inconsistencies, he told the court that that the case having taken long could have played a part in him not recalling its colour.

“I specifically stated that I was not sure about the colour,” he responded when cross-examined by Ms Jere, who further stated that her client would deny the jerrycan story.

Attorney Mr Motseoeme Taunyane represents the state in the case, which is before Justice Matlhogonolo Phuthego.

Mr Taunyane said the state would call more witnesses as the trial continues.

Selaolo (41) is the sole suspect in the killing of Mochocho. ENDS