Councillor counselled after alleged suicide bid

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday February 10, 2016 17:10

Tumiso, who was welcomed to Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) on Saturday after defecting from Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), was alleged to have wanted to commit suicide due to heavy personal debts.

“It is true we called the councillor for questioning after we received a report that he wanted to commit suicide. We found him at his cattle post, but he was shocked to see us. He was surprised when we told him about the report we had heard,” Letlhakeng police superintendent, Christopher Molobe told Mmegi.

Molobe said the councillor only confirmed that he had had a dispute with his girlfriend, but was vehement that he had not sent her a message about his debts and intentions to commit suicide.  He said they took the councillor to their station where he was questioned and later escorted to the sub council chairman for further verification about the alleged reports.

For his part, Tumiso said the reports about his suicidal state were spread by people out to tarnish his name.

“The truth is that I had gone to the cattle post to check on my animals. As you know, this is a drought period and I have some cattle that I needed to buy feeds for.

“My plans changed this morning when police officers arrived at my cattle post and asked me to go with them to Letlhakeng for questioning,” he said.

Tumiso said he was shocked when the police said they had received information that he wanted to kill himself.

“I had a misunderstanding with my girlfriend. Our misunderstanding was minor and I didn’t expect to hear all these stories but I am waiting for police officers to give me a full report on the matter.

I don’t have debts that could make me commit suicide,” he said.

Meanwhile the councillor’s friend and sub-district chairman, Tlotlo Bathophi confirmed that he had met with Tumiso and the police, to verify whether the councillor had a problem.

“I can confirm to you that there is no truth on the issue of suicide.

It is true he had a misunderstanding with his girlfriend and she took some of his things. We are waiting for police officers to tell us where they got such information. I am his brother and a friend. I would know if my brother was seriously in debts,” Bathophi said.