Crimes that shook the nation in 2025
Pini Bothoko | Monday December 22, 2025 06:00
Topping the list as the crime of the year was the death of former Minister of Health, Lelatisitswe Sethomo. His death marked a record moment in Botswana’s history as possibly the first suicide involving a former Cabinet minister. At the time of his death, Sethomo was on a police manhunt, wanted in connection with an attempted murder case after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. The shocking turn of events sent shockwaves across the country, raising concerns about mental health, domestic violence and accountability amongst leaders.
In February, the nation was shaken by a brutal case involving a Botswana Defence Force (BDF) soldier, Moagi Mokomeng, who allegedly shot and killed three people, poured petrol and set them alight inside a house. He also destroyed property and attempted to kill two more people. The attacks followed the commencement of his defilement case, in which the victim was a family member. One of the people he allegedly tried to kill was a police officer who was investigating the defilement case.
Last week, Mokomeng’s matter was committed to the High Court. He now faces an additional charge of stealing by a person employed in the public service, after allegedly taking a service rifle, five magazines and 18 live rounds of ammunition without authority.
In May, another incident that stunned the nation was the burning of Mmathubudukwane Police Station, estimated to be worth P1.6 billion, which was burnt down. A suspect, Ian Bafo Legobo, was arrested and remanded in custody for eight months. However, in a dramatic twist earlier this week, the High Court granted Legobo bail after investigations failed to conclusively link him to the arson.
The country was again plunged into mourning in June following the brutal killing of University of Botswana (UB) employee Magadi Mokganelwa. She was stabbed to death in broad daylight at the university premises, in full view of her colleagues, by her ex-boyfriend, Bantshuti Nkgarapi. The killing occurred just moments after she had appeared before a magistrate seeking a restraining order against her attacker. Tragically, she was stabbed only a few metres away from where a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) workshop was taking place, a harsh reminder of the persistent threat faced by women.
Throughout the year, the killings dominated headlines as women across the country were killed by partners or former lovers, often after attempting to end relationships. Moreover, men also killed one another over petty disputes, particularly at entertainment spots. In a recent incident, a man was stabbed to death for allegedly failing to greet another man, a matter that left the nation in shock as they questioned themselves how mere greetings end one’s life, a clear sign that people no longer respect the sanctity of human life. Just a week ago, another man was killed in Seleka over a disagreement involving a beer.
The murder of children also left the nation traumatised. Recently, a five-year-old boy was murdered by his stepfather in Ranaka. The man allegedly intended to harm the child’s mother, but when she flew, he turned his anger on the innocent child, hanging him to death.
Additionally, sexual violence remained rampant. Women and girls across the country were attacked and raped, with some victims roused from their sleep in an attack and raped. Such attacks occurred not only at night but also during the day, eroding women’s freedom of movement and sense of security.
According to police statistics, 14,020 cases of Gender-Based Violence were recorded in 2024, including 4,468 cases involving children. More recently, Police Commissioner Dinah Marathe revealed that murder cases increased by 3% in 2025, with most arising from intimate partner disputes, social misunderstandings and domestic conflicts.
As the year comes to an end, these crimes serve as a painful reflection of the challenges facing the nation. They highlight the urgent need for stronger interventions against GBV, improved mental health support, and collective action to restore peace, safety and dignity in communities across the country.