The matriarch of the family, a 68-year-old retired primary school deputy head, Elizabeth Ramolala and her two grandchildren, Katlego Ramolala, 17, and nine-year-old Alefa Ramolala, were shot and killed in their home in the early hours of February 25, 2025.
Lance Corporal Moagi Mokomeng, a Botswana Defence Force (BDF) soldier well known to the family, allegedly opened fire on them and later set their house on fire, with the deceased still inside.
For Ramolala's daughter, Thandie Ramolala, the sadness in her eyes spoke of pain that only she and her immediate family members could understand as she describes the kind of mother she was, away from the circulating rumours and allegations flying across social media.
"Ga twe bopelonomi bo bolaile Mmamasilo a noka", loosely translated (Kindness can be one's downfall), Thandie didn't mince her words saying her mother was the kindest soul who took pleasure in caring for others, something that was later detrimental to her and her two grandchildren.
Not trying to get deep into the details of that fateful day when they lost three family members, Thandie explained that her mother was hands-on be it at home, school, or at the lands where she was a staunch farmer.
"Mama nne a re ruta gore mosadi wa itirela, ga a bee mo banneng. E ne e le mme o itirelang ka diatla tota (Mama taught us to be independent and not rely on men. She was a self-sufficient woman)," she said.
Thandie explained that though they aren't able to comprehend what happened, it was important to remember that her mother's love and kindness was well known and that she was a mother not only to them but to other people.
She pointed out that they grew up as four girls, but they had brothers growing up because their mother would gladly accept other people's children into her home, giving them love as a mother and that it was never questioned as that was the kind of person she was.
"I guess she never thought that being a kind human being will end up prematurely taking her life and those of her grandchildren in such a brutal manner. My mother will be remembered for her kindness," she said.
In closing her farewell speech to her mother, Thandie said: "Setswana sa re o bolawa ke ba o jang le bone (In other words those closest to you are the ones likely to betray you)."
Not only did Thandie speak well of her mother, especially of her kind heart, even her neighbour, Sergeant Thabo Dibotelo, a police officer who was also shot and injured on the fateful morning spoke well about Elizabeth, describing her as a mother to his children when he wasn't home due to the demands of his job.
"I never worried about my children when I was at work because I knew they would be home (under her care). Mosadinyana wasn't just my neighbour, she was my sister. If it weren't her advice to take my kids out of Kgomokasitwa and send them home where they can be cared for as I often failed due to my work, we would (probably) also be burying them. I don't even know what to say," he said.
He spoke fondly of the love she had for the community, questioning how someone she cared for as her own child and trusted to let him come over when he felt like it could do such a heinous crime.
Dibotelo said only Mokomeng could answer why he did what he did, not the news going around trying to justify his actions.
Meanwhile, 34-year-old Mokomeng is currently behind bars facing six counts of murder, attempted murder, and arson.
Besides the three murder charges, he is also facing two attempted murder charges. He is accused of trying to kill a police officer, Sergeant Dibotelo, by shooting him with a gun and attempting to murder Happy Ramolala after he allegedly torched the house he was in. Mokomeng also has an arson charge after he allegedly, willfully and unlawfully, set Ramolala’s house on fire.
