PAY BACK TIME Man threatens to kill his childhood abuser
A29-year-old man from Lotlhakane East, Kutlwano Walobaka was given a sixmonth suspended prison sentence for three years after threatening to kill the man who abused him during his childhood.
Details presented before the Kanye Magistrate Court revealed that Walobaka assaulted and threatened to kill Tshepo John Kerekang on April 30, 2023 alleging that Kerekang had abused him by beating him unnecessarily when he was just 11 years old, and he was too young to defend himself during that time.
The two met on the way while Walobaka was heading to a tuck shop, where Walobaka confronted Kerekang about the abuse from many years ago. It was stated in court that Walobaka, who was intoxicated during the incident, said Kerekang even threatened him with a knife when they were younger. Walobaka then proceeded to slap and kick Kerekang, as well as punch him in the face. The two were separated by eyewitnesses and Walobaka immediately vacated the scene.
It was stated in court that Walobaka even uttered the words, ‘You threatened to kill me back then, and today I will kill you.’ After experiencing the ordeal, Kerekang decided to report the incident to Walobaka’s parents. He then threatened to kill Kerekang in front of them, prompting the latter to report the matter to the police. During statements with the police, Walobaka revealed that he was beaten without reason by the complainant almost 17 years ago at a tender age. He expressed that it was now payback time.
Walobaka informed the presiding magistrate, Keneilwe Kgwadi, that he did not recall the events of that day when he threatened to kill his one time abuser. He also said he did not even remember giving a statement to the police officers as he was drunk at the time. Despite this, he pleaded guilty to the matter.
The court convicted Walobaka of the threat-to-kill offense, and his bail was revoked for a day. He was ordered to spend the night in prison, and the case resumed the next day. During his mitigation, Walobaka pleaded for leniency from the court, stating that he is the family breadwinner and that he struggled to maintain his two jobs while dealing with this case. He explained, “I take care of my siblings, I live in a singleparent household, and my mother is currently unwell. It was not my intention to commit the crime as I was drunk.”
The magistrate said that she firmly believed the incident was not premeditated, considering Walobaka’s state of being highly intoxicated. Consequently, he received a sixmonth prison sentence, suspended for three years. Additionally, he was cautioned to refrain from committing any further crimes. The magistrate warned that any subsequent offense within the next three years would result in a six-month imprisonment. Walobaka was also reminded that the threat-to-kill offense carries a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and was admonished to never engage in criminal activities again.
Parents of the reigning Miss Botswana Lesego Chombo are about to embark on a potentially life-changing journey. As proud parents of one of Botswana’s most remarkable and extraordinary beauty queens, Othusitse and Ditebo Chombo will this week be traveling with other family members, as well as an entourage of supporters, all eagerly anticipating the day when Botswana might finally claim the elusive Blue and White crown of the Miss World pageant. The 71st Miss World queen will be crowned this Saturday at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai, India, most Batswana are convinced that this time around, the odds are favouring Botswana to win, as evidenced by the amount of hard work that Lesego has been putting into the series of competitions that make up the Miss World pageant. Most importantly, she has been making the right noise, and is very visible. Surely this Saturday will mark a significant moment in a three-week competition that has kept Batswana on the edge of their seats. In a historic feat, it is the first time Botswana has made tremendous strides in all fast-track events. Since her arrival in India last month, Chombo has made it into almost all the finals or semifinals of the fast-track events. She has also secured a spot in the Top 40 after impressing in the Beauty with a Purpose Challenge. Nine other contestants; Brazil, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, and Ukrain also advanced to the Top 40 after excelling in that challenge. Just like her nickname, Chombo made it into the Top 5 of the Head-to-Head challenge, where participants had to speak about one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. This also automatically secured Chombo a spot in the Top 40. As if that wasn’t enough, she performed exceptionally well in the Sports Challenge. Under the Talent Challenge, she was one of the 14 contestants chosen to showcase their talents during the Beauty with a Purpose Gala Dinner. She was also a finalist in the Top Model Challenge and was crowned the Africa winner for the same challenge. In her motivational Monday video, she shared that simply being in Mumbai for the prestigious Miss World competition was enough motivation for her.
Moreover, she expressed how the experience had been lifechanging and that she had made great friends. “I have learned so much, and I have put myself in challenging situations just to grow. And I am so grateful for it,” she said. Offering words of wisdom, she highlighted the importance of staying true to oneself and pursuing dreams despite obstacles. “I think each one of us knows what we really want in life, and we also know the real reason why we want it. And your reason does not have to make sense to anyone but you; it is only then, when you commit to your dreams and passions, that you will find fulfilment in life. Because right now, I feel that I have never been this fulfilled, and I am proud to have held onto that feeling in the very depth of my spirit that told me this is my purpose. I am reaping the fruits of my work, and most importantly, I am experiencing the goodness of God,” she said.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday afternoon, Ben Raletsatsi of Miss Botswana informed the media that they were pleased to see the results of believing in something.
“She is doing amazing things,” he explained. He further stated that when they took over Miss Botswana, they had a dream that included setting the pace with Palesa Molefe and reaching their current position. “In the year of Lesego, we are aiming for the Miss World crown, and we chose the right person,” he explained. All of these exciting developments, he said, were working in their favour as Botswana prepares to host Miss World in 2026. Meanwhile, watch parties are currently being organised through out the country. Cresta Lodge is one of the places where Batswana can go and watch the finale which will be broadcast at 1600hrs on Saturday. Others can also check it out on BTV (channel 290).