Former Journalist Charged With Threat-To-Kill

Makgekgenene, 35, is a close relative to former cabinet minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tonota, Lemme Makgekgenene, who received a Presidential Order of Honour (PH) in 2008. The Makgekgenenes are not only known in political circles in Botswana but are also renowned for their business prowess. According to another Makgekgenene relative, the Makgekgenene and the Patrick Balopi families are related in the sense that both Lemme and Balopi married daughters from the same family. Just like Lemme, Patrick is an entrepreneur and has been an MP for 20 years holding several cabinet and ministerial positions.

In his political career, Patrick has held the position of chairperson of the SADC Parliament Forum. He is currently the chair of Turnstar Holdings Ltd. According to the charge sheet, Makgekgenene, a former journalist at the Sunday Standard newspaper and its sister publication, The Telegraph, without any lawful excuse, threatened to kill Felicia Kerekeng Balopi in October 23, 2021, at or near Tonota.