Suspicion looms over Motswaledi car accident
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday July 31, 2014 12:32
Suspicion arose when police officers at the scene blocked them from viewing the Audi3 which reportedly claimed the life of the prominent politician. The UDC members who arrived at the scene were head of policy and research, who was also a close friend of the deceased, Ndaba Gaolathe, UDC Member of Parliament for Kanye South, Abram Kesupile, Lobatse legislator Nehemiah Modubule, UDC head of strategy and elections, Tapiso Kgosikoma, Goodhope-Mabule parliamentary candidate, James Mathokgwane, UDC chairperson Motlatsi Molapise and Mogoditshane parliamentary candidate, Sedirwa Kgoroba, amongst others. It is understood that Motswaledi might have crossed from South Africa to Botswana shortly after 7am, while the accident allegedly occurred at around 8am. His body was taken to Goodhope Hospital mortuary an hour later.
When the Mmegi crew arrived at the scene, they found that the car had been dragged from the tarred road for about 40 metres, rolled over on the left side against the fence, which is approximately 20 metres from the skid markings. Bloodstains were spotted on the passenger window and the roof of the car. The two tyres on the driver’s side were intact while on the passenger side one had burst.
Lobatse police assistant commissioner for traffic, Engemadzo Sechele said they received the report from Ramatlabama in the morning. He said when they arrived at the scene they found Motswaledi alone in his car.
“Investigations are still ongoing. We are trying to find out if there were other passengers or not. We do not know what could have caused the accident,” said Sechele, adding that the deceased was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital. He said they also have contact details of witnesses of the accident.
Meanwhile, Modubule stated that they are going to engage private forensic investigators to determine the cause of the accident.
“We are still in shock but we are putting everything unto God. I do not think this is an ordinary accident and we hope the police will give us full details. He was driving from Johannesburg where he had attended a meeting with some of the UDC friends. We were expecting him to brief us about the meeting,”he said.
Modubule noted that they had requested the police to keep the car in a safe place so that evidence is not tampered with.
Motswaledi had been expected to represent the UDC during general elections in Gaborone Central where he would have battled it out with Botswana Congress Party (BCP) president Dumelang Saleshando and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) candidate Rupert Isaac Hambira.