Police search for keys to solving Tlotso's murder
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday July 12, 2022 10:04
On Friday morning residents of Lobatse flocked Peleng kgotla as the Directorate of Intelligence and Security's (DIS) Direct-General, Peter Magosi and Deputy Police Commissioner Operations, Solomon Mantswe held a meeting to update on the ongoing investigation of the Karema boy's murder.
It was a chaotic morning as the dejected residents could not pretend to be pleased with police investigations in the matter. The irritated residents could not contain their anger when being updated on the latest developments of the case by Mantswe shouting in protest and demanding answers.
They wanted Mantswe to disclose the exact location where Tlotso is alleged to have been killed and reveal what the police recovered at the crime scene. The confrontation nearly got out of control as the scene was a tinderbox where a riot could explode at any moment with multitudes asking questions, talking over Mantswe while giving an update.
From the top of their voices, residents accused the police of having played a part in concealing the truth of what transpired. Residents accused the officers of protecting the boy’s killers. The chaos started after Mantswe announced that the initial DNA report was correct as it confirmed the body remains discovered along Kanye road weeks ago belong to Karema.
“Nnyaa hoo ke a gana, marapo ao gase one, ah lona le itse sese jeleng ngwana. Bring back Tlotso, re batla ngwana. Gatwe stepfather o fitlhetswe ka P200,000, madi ao a tswa kae re batla nnete ka gore ngwana o jelwe,” shouted one Lobatse resident at the top of his voice disrupting Mantswe as he accused the police of concealing the truth.
Residents went on to state that the DNA results have been tampered with stating that they suspect someone in a higher position might be involved.
The irate residents wanted to know how the stepfather committed the offence and how he managed to do so alone because he was always in the company of the deceased’s mother, his girlfriend.
However, Mantswe maintained the initial DNA report is authentic stating there would be no reason to tamper with the test results as residents allege. Furthermore, the police representative disclosed that recently their main suspect, Lovemore Sithole who is Karema’s stepfather, took them to where they believed the crime was committed and found remains which they have taken to the laboratory for further tests.
“At that place, we are adamant it is the crime scene. We have found some remains and other things that we have since taken to the laboratory for further tests. We strongly believe that it is where the murder offence was committed,” Mantswe said.
Another resident interrupted demanding to know the exact place and that he should be clear about what exactly the police found.
“Heela rra, ware le bone dilo tseo kae? Dilo tseo ke eng sentle ntle? Go ne go nale eng le eng? Ako le re boleleleng! Buang le lese go dira sephiri. Re batla ngwana kana golo ha!” screamed another villager at the top of his voice.
In response, Mantswe said indeed police discovered remains at the crime scene which they suspect might be part of the initial body remains that belong to Karema and have since taken them for further tests.
For his part, the DIS head, Magosi pleaded for calm. He stated that even though the deceased’s stepfather has been arrested as the main suspect there are possibilities that he did not commit the offence alone.
Magosi revealed he was aware of rumours circulating in Lobatse concerning the case hence he pleaded with residents to help the police with information that could lead to the arrest of more suspects.
“Re thuseng, ngwana o ka tsewa jang mo motsing lesa bone lele banni ba Lobatse? Dipuo di a buiwa moo mme gale batle go re thusa ka go ntsha nnete ele e itseng. I want to assure you that we might have arrested someone, but investigations into the matter are ongoing,” he said.