STORM FROM HELL
Suspected witchcraft as man dies on sweetheart’s birthday Family struggles to raise money for his burial
His dog, goat and donkey died a few days earlier
The family of deceased Isaac Ikaneng (53) is still struggling jwith burial expenses after he died last week when the wall of a building that is still under construction collapsed on him and two other workmates.
The building’s wall in Gaborone’s Commerce Park succumbed to the heavy storms that left most parts of the city destroyed.
When the rain began, Ikaneng and two workmates who had been paving beside the road found shelter in the nearest building. Unfortunately, the building was not strong enough to withstand the heavy storm. It collapsed and bricks crashed on the three of them.
According to Ikaneng’s daughters Oakantse (33) and Keabetswe Pitswe (19) - they have to bury their father in Bobonong, but how they will get there from Gabane where they are currently residing, gives them sleepless nights.
Their mother, Mamosadinyana Pitswe (52), is also stuck in Gabane without a Thebe.
Although the couple was not married, Mamosadinyana is the woman that Ikaneng stayed with for more than 40 years. He was even intending to marry her early next year.
The saddest part for the family is that Ikaneng died on his sweetheart’s birthday.
“We are thankful that the company which was building that wall has reached out to us and told us that they will help with transporting the body to Bobonong.
“But we have no food and have no idea how the family will get to Bobonong. We are not sure what will happen once we get there. As the eldest daughter, it’s my responsibility to borrow money and take care of all expenses,” Oakantse said. What worries her though is that her father’s funeral will leave them knee-deep in debts yet the family survives only on piece jobs. The family is devastated by the passing of their father as he was the glue that kept them together for many years. He was loved by many people and always flashed a smile even when in pain. “On the day he died I had last seen him two days earlier. I am hurt because he was not sick or anything; he just died when we least expected,” she said. Keabetswe explained that on the day their father died, he had left home with his brother who had asked that they, Ikaneng and his cousin Boemo Gaanakgomo, help him with paving in Gaborone. They were also accompanied by a friend whom they have learned is from Mogapi village. When the wall collapsed, Ikaneng, Gaanakgomo and the friend from Mogapi died while Ikaneng’s brother survived. “My uncle who is still very terrified tells us that when the wall collapsed, he was still on the other side, he was only alarmed by their screams and when he rushed to see what had happened, he found that the wall had collapsed on all the three men. He then called for help,” Keabetswe said, adding that she still cannot wrap her head around it all.
“We hear the bricks hit him on the feet but he died, how though when his head or other fragile body parts were not hit by the bricks? We really do not know what to think, is it witchcraft?
“I remember how a few days before our father died, his dog, goat and donkey also died,” she said.