Batshu urges restraint at slain nurse's funeral

Staff Writer | Tuesday February 18, 2014 16:39

 

He told the mourners that the police would leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators of the brutal crime to book.

Bokani went missing on January 3 and her unrecognisable body was found in a shallow grave about two weeks ago near Donga location in Francistown. Her former boyfriend, Atlholang Mojanki, 33, and an alleged accomplice Tshepo Queen Nlewa, 42, who are both police officers, have been charged with her murder.

Mojanki was stationed at Central Police station while Nlewa was at the Goshwe satellite police office. Said Batshu: 'I appeal to members of the public to exercise patience as the police carry out their investigations. 'I trust that they will do a good job in bringing Bokani’s killers to book,” a visibly disturbed Batshu said in his short speech.

Batshu also thanked members of the public for supporting the family and the police during their investigations. At the sombre funeral family members, friends and colleagues described Bokani as a sociable person who would not harm a fly. However, emotions ran high when a haunting message from Bokani’s mother Mmatipiwa Socks was read out to mourners.

'My child I expected a lot from you. I did not expect you to die soon,' read part of the message. Bokani was the breadwinner in her family. A message from Bokani's two sisters perhaps summed up the feelings of the family.

'You were such a wonderful sister. We will always remember your sense of humour and your jokes. You did not deserve to die this way,' read the message from Tracey and Sharon.

Other messages were from her colleagues at NRH’s anti-natal and post-natal department who described her as a loving person.

The Botswana Nurses Union (BNU) was also represented at the funeral.

Members of the family were too distraught to speak to the media.

Meanwhile, it was a no-show at the Francistown Magistrates Court where Senior Magistrate Thebeetsile Mulalu was expected to make a ruling on bail that the murder suspects had asked for through their lawyer, Kabelo Gaonyadiwe.

Both the public and members of the press could be seen milling around the courts, awaiting the ruling, but the accused persons did not appear.Unconfirmed reports had it that the case had been moved to Masunga Magistrate Court where the accused were granted a P5,000 bail on Monday.