"I have forgiven you" says Minister
Minister of Youth Sports and Culture Thapelo Olopeng says he has forgiven the faceless person who posted on his Facebook page condemning his silence in the wake of the Sebina saga and wishing that someone could brutally rape his daughter.
The anonymous person challenged the minister to show his love for the youth that he represents and make a statement concerning the Sebina case in which BDP Councillor Amon impregnated a schoolgirl.
Speaking to The Midweek Sun, Olopeng said, “I believe the child or whoever posted the statement needs help. I have forgiven them and pray to Almighty God to forgive and show them light. My humble view is that whoever it is, is not well and needs counselling. I wish I knew him, then I would easily help. I am even ready to pay for his rehabilitation costs”.
Olopeng said, it all started after he posted about the “fruitful meeting I had with all the past Miss Botswana since Independence”. He said the many people who responded were happy save for “one who goes by the name of Dandy Copeland.”
The person wrote, “Hon Thapelo Olopeng Those young people are being abused and you have never responded nor condoned the acts of your fellow BDP Councillor! You are an embarrassment, let alone a disappointment. How I wish someone could brutally rape your daughter and see how you would deal with it! There is a child pregnant and your councilor confessed to have had unprotected sex with a 16 year old! Say something, if you really love working with young people you would say something! What a shame of a leader!”
Olopeng said that ever since using social media platforms, he has endured a lot of abuse but vowed that neither the provocations nor the slurs will discourage him from using the interactive platforms because he is aware of their utility as opposed to kgotla meetings. “Nothing will discourage me to continue with my cause because I am a minister of youths and many appreciate my style of operation as evidenced by the number of followers.
“I have been insulted many times, but I decided to share this post as a way of proving to many that I too often get insulted by my followers and fellow country men. For the record I want to state that I do not condone what councillor Amon has done but I want the law to take its course as none of us are above the law,” said the Minister.
“I also have children, my youngest daughter is 22 years old and therefore personally when I see a girl child, I always regard them as my daughter and wish them the best. It must be noted that I never sent the Councillor to commit the crime. I did not see the reason to focus on the issue because the minister responsible for schools Honourable Unity Dow has issued a statement concerning the matter. I therefore thought there was no need to duplicate her statement.”
It is common knowledge that I operate on an open policy and all are free to approach me and raise their concerns in a civilised manner instead of uttering insults and wishing members of my family who are not politicians the worst things. The message shows that our children morals are deteriorating, “ke go thoka maitsaeo”
My caution to fellow Batswana is we should avoid uttering insults as a way of wanting to prove our point as this is against the spirit of Botho which we all uphold and can lead us into serious national crisis. We must learn to control our emotions as well as resist from uttering insults against our political rival irrespective of which political party we belong to. This is so because the difference of options will always be there as long as we are alive.
