Lobatse in shock as MP implicated in Tlotso’s murder
Pini Bothoko | Monday August 8, 2022 06:00
LOBATSE: Death brings everything to a halt. But, sudden demise resulting from suspected ritual murder causes more overwhelming grief for survivors. This is what residents of the low-income Peleng perched on a hill-top is going through at this moment.
On Wednesday, following the arrest of the area Member of Parliament, Dr Thapelo Matsheka on the previous day, Mmegi news crew visited the grieving community and established that residents are still struggling to come to terms with events surrounding the death of six-year-old Tlotso Karema.
As the suspect’s list in the murder of Karema continues to grow, Tuesday evening, Dr Matsheka was arrested and detained as one of the alleged suspects in Karema’s murder.
A day before the MP’s arrest, Matsheka’s former campaign manager and Peleng East councillor Thuso Mantsi, Ontiretse Mosimanewamacha and the deceased’s aunt, Nono Karema were also arrested in relation to the horrific murder.
Four months later, residents of Lobatse are still reeling in shock and grief following the killing of the innocent child who was initially reported missing on March 18 following his disappearance without trace after failing to return home from school.
Residents had mixed feelings over the new developments with some adamant that the arrested suspects are behind Karema’s death while some have put their faith in the justice system to dig out the truth.
“We are happy that the suspects list continues to grow in Karema’s death, but also shocked that our MP has been arrested and currently detained. However, initially there have been rumours of some community leaders being involved hence not that surprised that our area MP and councillor have been arrested,” said a 26-year-old Peleng resident who preferred anonymity for fear of victimisation. “Re hakgametse, batho ba re ntseng reba batlisa ngwana ke bone ba go tweng ba jele ngwana, go lebega ba ntse bare latlhisa motlhala (We are in deep shock. People who have been assisting in the hunt for the missing boy are now implicated as suspects and they have probably been misleading us) if indeed they are implicated.”
The resident further stated that if indeed they killed the little boy, all the suspects should be hanged to death if they have indeed committed the horrific act that left the whole country reeling in shock.
Another resident, and a 49-year-old woman said the arrest of their area MP left many reeling in shock because they have been dismissing his implication in the matter all along.
“We have put all our faith in the country’s justice system to resolve this matter but not being politically influenced. We hope that this is not a political stunt because our MP has been arrested alongside Peleng East councillor,” she said.
A Peleng mother of four further stated that the death of Karema has brought fear amongst their children, as they are no longer free to neither play with their mates nor visit their relatives. She added that not only children are in danger as even the elderly fear for their lives following what transpired.
“We fear for our lives, even as adults we are no longer free to go out to fetch firewood because we suspect that Karema was killed for ritual purposes especially that general elections are fast approaching,” she said.
“However, we are hopeful that the justice system will resolve this matter because even our neighbouring countries that have been looking up to us might be shocked following this child murder.”
For his part, another 43-year-old resident of Peleng accused the police of having played a part in concealing the truth of what really transpired. He accused the officers of initially protecting the boy’s killers.
“The arrest of our MP and councillor is an embarrassment to the community of Lobatse. I am not yet convinced, their arrests might be politically influenced hence will be only certain when they have been sentenced and convicted,” he said.
Tlotso was allegedly kidnapped by his stepfather, Lovemore Sithole, who has already appeared before court on a single count of murder.
For a while, some Lobatse residents and members of the public across social media platforms have been unhappy at the way the deceased’s mother and family has been mourning the loss of her son.
The dejected public has been accusing the family of knowing what happened and having contributed to the boy’s death. Across social media platforms, members of the public have been roasting the boy’s family asking where they get strength to be active on social media not mourning the boy.