GRUESOME GHETTO
Precious little to celebrate as F/town murder rate hits seven in two months
Labelled ‘the city of all things precious’ by high-ranking officials looking to attract investors to the city, for Gorata Makgetse’s grieving family, there is little precious to celebrate about Francistown.
The 26-year-old Serowe native was strangled to death, her lifeless body retrieved at her rented home in the second city’s Block 2 location on Monday morning.
Her death brings the number of murders in and around Ghetto to seven in the last two months, a total that includes five cases of suspected Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Makgetse’s boyfriend, Emmanuel Sesupeng, 28, has since been charged with her murder, appearing before Francistown Magistrates’ Court in shackles on Tuesday.
According to sources close to the case, the couple had a misunderstanding that turned violent and then deadly.
Allegations are that Sesupeng choked his lover in the heat of the moment and did not intend to kill her. Realising that she wasn’t breathing and unable to revive her, Sesupeng reportedly called a friend, who duly informed Kutlwano Police.
The cops, accompanied by the friend, are said to have arrived on the scene to find Sesupeng waiting outside the yard. He led them inside the house, where Makgetse was discovered lying on her bed unresponsive.
She was rushed to the clinic but declared dead on arrival.
In court the next day, the shackled suspect appeared to be in a state of shock.
Successfully requesting Sesupeng be locked up, State Prosecutor, Zibo Siwela, stated, “As this is a fresh matter as stated by the charge sheet, we pray with the court to remand the accused in custody. We will avail the Investigating Officer on the next sitting to update court on the status of the matter.”
Given the chance to address court, Sesupeng, who works as a Boiler Operator, spoke only to say he had nothing to say.
He will remain behind bars on remand until his next court appearance, scheduled for 5th October.