In this blog post, I share an intimate detail from a close source who at the time was doing their form 4 in 1994 and who experienced the riots around this unsolved murder of Segametsi Mogomotsi in January and February 1995 when they were starting their form 5. The source shall be referred to as Nnete (Truth).
As she begins to relate the story, the tone in her voice is filled so much sadness and disappointment at how everything happened but nonetheless willing to recount. “Segametsi Mogomotsi was schooling at Radikolo Junior Secondary School in Mochudi and she was 14 years old. She went missing in Mochudi on November 5, 1994. She was later found dead with her private parts missing and according to some literature, her arms and legs were piled up upon being found”.
According to Nnete, in January 1995, Segametsi’s schoolmates and the Mochudi community were infuriated in the way the murder case was handled. There were assumptions that it was a ritual murder and protest marches bloomed in Mochudi to prompt the government to act. The suspects’ houses were burnt by protesters and the violence reached Gaborone on 16 February 1995. The University of Botswana students and Gaborone (GSS) and Naledi Senior Secondary students joined in the riots protesting. Nnete says at that time St Joseph’s College was not part of the riots as they did not know the motive behind the whole story. Mind you I went to St Joseph’s College (2007-2008) and it is in the outskirts and at that time when Nnete went, there were no forms of internet. So, you can picture why they received the news last.
Things got tense upon the city of Gaborone and neighbouring places surrounding Mochudi. “Students and the community were looting and burning businesses and shops, the police tried to remedy the situation, but they failed. “Our headteacher ordered us to run for our lives”, Nnete said. Apparently, taxis and buses were not working at the time for fear of the situation, and Gaborone was closed, so they had to walk home from St Josephs on foot. At this point, I too remembered when my schoolmates and I during my time at St Joseph’s used to walk to Game City to get combis when they weren’t any. In my mind, I pictured the same scenario, relating all too well.
Upon getting to Gaborone, there were tires on the roads up in smoke and gunshots engulfed the area. There were soldiers patrolling, riding horses. Those very soldiers were refuge for Nnete and her schoolmates. They hid behind the soldiers therefore not getting harmed by the rioters. She says she could see from the people’s actions the misery and hurt and them shouting at how disappointed they were at the way the government was handling the case. Rioters were insinuating that the reason why the government was not so adamant at solving the case was because of the suspects. They were assumed to be high profile people hence why they were being protected. All they wanted was justice for their fellow student.
Soon the news spread into the radio through Radio Botswana, SABC News and Bophutatswana TV (BOP TV) through their news channel: South Africa Bop TV News. At this point, Nnete was home with her Aunt who lived in a military camp in Gaborone. She saw the unsolicited events on TV; students being shot with rubber bullets and getting injured. A Notwane primary school teacher shot with a live bullet who lived on but died years later. Mochudi community members were killed, UB students threw themselves off the flats therefore Marina hospital was full.
The following day on 17 February 1995, there was no school, as it was still so tense. There were burning tires along the Ginger Road, across Maruapula through to Main Mall. As UB students took the march up to the National Assembly area, one of the protesters hit the President with a brick. At that time, Dr Masire was the president of Botswana. That action led to an announcement by the President to order soldiers to shoot protesters with live bullets. “Rubber bullets are black, hard rubber pellets that leave wounds on your body. Now imagine live bullets! I saw the people’s injuries on TV, it was such a horrible sight!”, Nnete exclaimed.
She went on to say that President, Masire hired Scotland Yard to investigate and assuring Batswana that they will be given a report. The Leader of Opposition at the time, Dr Kenneth Koma, addressed the nation, pleading with the students to not fight. They listened and stopped, hoping the report will surface but unfortunately, they waited until President Mogae succeeded him. When students demanded the Scotland Yard report from Mogae, his response was not satisfactory. Backed by the Setswana phrase, Leso legolo ke dishego, Nnete broke into laugher recalling President Mogae’s response in which he said the students must ask the Scotland Yard not him. Even today there is nothing on who really killed Segametsi Mogomotsi?
There were a lot of assumptions surrounding Segametsi’s murder. One was that her stepfather sold her for P1200 and had agreed on a deposit of P600 when the child was given to traffickers and he never got any of it. One was that her dad’s friend wanted to buy a supermarket and went to a traditional doctor who said he wanted the child’s’ parts for rituals and that he searched for the child whilst knowing he was to be blamed. One was that of her stepfather colluding with a friend and a traditional doctor to do a ritual for their supermarket business. Even though her stepfather confessed to being involved and some people were charged., the real murderer was never found. So please do share which others you heard.
This is one of the most famous unsolved crimes in Botswana and in the history of Africa. Even up to today, the story surrounding the whole ordeal is not yet known as there are different accounts to what really happened. We still do not know who killed Segametsi Mogomotsi? And why they did that? All we realize from all of this tragedy is the importance of taking heed to protect children especially the girl child. That we archive such crimes not because they are fun to re-tell but because crimes were committed in this peaceful state of our ours and hiding them will never lead us to the truth.
The featured image is from ©Memoirs Of A Kgosi‘s blog and the picture was taken by Mothusi Sejakgomo. It shows the riot situation surrounding Segametsi Mogomotsi.
The link below is for your needed support and the change you can make to bring comfort to Segametsi Mogomotsi’s brother and family. Please click and share. Thank you!
P.A.W. (The Writer) 