Pensive memorial for departed police pilots
Gothataone Moeng | Friday May 2, 2014 16:08
Gaokgakala Sobatha, Keokeditswe’s younger sister, related that aviation accidents had been on the superintendent’s mind since the media frenzy surrounding the missing Malaysian flight MH370.
“Waitse, ke ete ke imagine e le nna, ke emeletse ka 6 ke re ke a tirong, e bo ke sa boe,” Gaokgakala recalled her sister saying.
Gaokgakala was speaking in Gaborone this week at an official memorial service for the three police officers who died in a helicopter crash last Sunday in the Okavango Delta.
At the memorial, attended by Justice, Defence and Security minister, Ramadeluka Seretse, Police Commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe, intelligence director, Isaac Kgosi and legislators, the three police officers, who died while on duty, were described as heroes for their commitment and service to the nation.The officers, Keokeditswe, Assistant Superintendent Shepard Ntobedzi and Inspector Ricardo Modiri Mabotho, died after their police helicopter crashed and burnt over the Easter holidays. The causes of the accident are still under investigation.
Remembering her sister, Gaokgakala said she is comforted because Keokeditswe died doing a job that she loved. Keokeditswe, who was a qualified Social Worker with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Botswana, joined the Botswana Police Service in December 2002. In 2003 she was posted to Jwaneng after completing her recruitment course.
She was eventually transferred to the Air Support Branch in September 2009, coinciding with her promotion to the rank of Assistant Superintendent. After joining the Air Support Branch, Superintendent Sobatha attained a commercial pilot licence as well as Simulator Training for the AS 350 B34 helicopter.
Police Commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe said that Sobatha was the second woman to qualify as a helicopter pilot within the police service. Gaokgakala said her sister, like herself, was born and bred in the Bokalaka ward in Molepolole, where her achievement as a pilot had made her a celebrity.
“E ne e re ha plane e heta, e be gotwe ke yole Pelotshweu,” she said. From Lekgolobotlo, Toro Mantaga, Mabotho’s uncle, remembers his nephew as very bright and hardworking. An eager football player, Mabotho was polite and very respectful. His colleague Sergeant Thusoetsile Mantimane remembers him as somebody who was, away from the office, fun and loved football and dancing. In the office, he was dependable.
“E ne e le sesana se re remeletseng mo go sone,” he said.
Makgophe revealed that Mabotho, who joined the police service in 2002, was promoted at the beginning of April, the same month he would meet his untimely death.
“As a young pilot, the late Mabotho had shown a lot of potential to develop into a formidable flier. He was a fast learner whose contributions were visible all the time,” Makgophe said.
Ntobedzi, of Kalakamati village, was remembered by his brother-in-law Joseph Genge, who described him as someone who loved people and always wanted his family around him.
Genge said his wish would be for a monument to be erected for the three officers so that their children can remember their heroism. He also urged Minister Seretse to counsel police officers and those in the Air Support Branch to understand that what happened to the three officers was just an accident, and does not mean the end of flying for policemen.
Seretse echoed this sentiment in his remarks, saying the best way to honour the officers would be to learn from them and achieve what they had achieved.
“Your beloved children died in service of our beloved nation. Theirs was not a job to be done, but rather a calling to serve,” he said.
Seretse said Batswana should not let the incident – the first of its kind since the 2009 establishment of the Air Support Branch – dampen their spirit. The minister also read a message of condolence from President Ian Khama. Funerals for all three officers will be held on Saturday in Lekgolobotlo, Kalakamati and Serowe.