Thamaga woman laid to rest

Mpho Mokwape | Monday December 1, 2014 13:10

 

The 66-year-old Gaadingwe succumbed to injuries she sustained last week Sunday after, she was repeatedly stabbed by notorious gang members in her homestead.

Gaadingwe fell victim to a group of gang members allegedly known as Merubisi who have been terrorising the village, causing havoc and terror for Thamaga residents.  She leaves behind two children, five grandchildren and five siblings.

Various speakers at the funeral, overcome with emotion and grief, spoke highly of Gaadingwe. They described her as a loving and cheerful mother and grandmother to many.

Maggie Monare, the late Gaadingwe’s caregiver, who also fell victim to the gang members’ wrath, explained to the mourners that Gaadingwe succumbed to her injuries after suffered from internal bleeding. She explained that the deceased had multiple stab wounds.

“We all know that she was not ill but was murdered; she had so many stab wounds and the one that was on the shoulder must have penetrated through to her lungs and she had internal bleeding and eventually gave up,” she said.

Councillor for Thamaga North, Palelo Motaosane, who could not hold back tears blamed the community for the village being under siege by the notorious gangs.

He said lack of discipline has been brewing for long and parents have failed to address and reprimand their children, even when they know they are troublesome.

“Many children are left with their grandparents and when they misbehave, the grandparents would either be accused of abusing them while they try to discipline them, then we come here and wonder how we have rotten youth amongst us,” he said.

He pointed out that it is not true that the gang members are unemployed youth, but are actually still lin junior school.

Member of Parliament and Minister of Transport and Communications, Tshenolo Mabeo, said he hopes the murder incident was the last one in the village.

He assured residents that the police commissioner has deployed and beefed up policing in the village to ensure the safety of the community that lives in fear and confusion.

Mabeo told residents that even the President has assured him that they will protect the community and ensure that the gangs are erased from the village.

“I know we have multitudes of people here and it is only because they live in fear and are confused about what is happening, but I can assure you that this is the last time we meet under such circumstances,” he said.