WHO DUNNIT?
Bangwato distance themselves from Autlwetse’s arson incident
Bangwato have distanced themselves from the arson incident that took place at the residence of Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kgotla Autlwetse last Friday.
The nation woke up to the news that Autlwetse’s house at Palamaokue Ward in Serowe was attacked by unknown assailants while his motor vehicle had been torched to ashes.
The house, which at the time, the Minister’s wife was sleeping in, also caught fire but was doused by police and officers of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services.
Bagammangwato revealed at a Kgotla meeting in Serowe on the same day that the fire was just a set-up to distract people from attending the meeting which was called at the instance of their Kgosikogolo Ian Khama.
Khama who has been in South Africa since last year had instructed that a meeting by his uncles be called to find a way forward from morafe on the ongoing impasse between him and President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Speaking on behalf of the uncles, Keiphemele Kgokgothwane told the meeting that they should not be associated with what transpired at Autlwetse’s house. Autlwetse who is a Specially-Elected Member of Parliament was not in Serowe at the time of the incident. “We heard about the incident. We also know that they are trying to implicate us in what transpired there. But I want to make it very clear that we are not involved. “They know who did that and they know why they staged such an incident. As Bangwato we are not that cruel. We are not even angry with the minister. Violence is not in us because we are a peace-loving tribe,” Kgokgothwane said. He said the incident was staged to ensure that tempers are raised not only in Serowe but across the country. He said this is bad for the country but assured everyone that when the truth comes out, perpetrators should be taken to task. According to Kgokgothwane, others had been threatened that there would be violence at the meeting, but detractors have been disappointed that such never happened and were never in their plan to stage such. He called on the tribe to be united and to rally behind their Kgosikgolo whom he said was doing well in South Africa. Government Spokesperson JohnThomas Dipowe said the incident is of grave concern to the government. “While police investigations are still ongoing, the government condemns in the strongest terms the politically motivated violence which seeks to disturb the peace and tranquility that our citizens continue to enjoy under our democratic dispensation. “The government believes in the rule of law and therefore such barbaric acts cannot be tolerated under any circumstances”, Dipowe said in a statement. On Monday three suspects, Thabang Segotso (23) of Chichana ward, Moreri Tshinki (23) of Mathuba ward, and Modisagape Marobela (38) of Chichana ward appeared before Serowe Magistrate Court for two counts of causing malicious damage to property. According to particulars of the offence on count one, the trio on April 2022 at Palamaokue Ward in Serowe set on fire a vehicle of registration B 722 BEV, Toyota Hilux, valued at P232 000 being the property of Gabalape Autlwetse. On count two, the three accused persons are said to have set fire to Autlwetse’s house whose cost of damage is not yet known.