UB student in murder case

A 22 year-old University of Botswana student will appear at Extension II magistrate court on May 3 for murder charges.

Details are still quite sketchy as the family of the late Oageng ‘Man in Town’ Makabe, an alleged popular criminal who was believed to have terrorised revellers at nightclubs by stealing their mobile phones, are yet to receive a full report from Central Police station which is still investigating the case.

On February 5, Makabe is said to have gone to Zoom nightclub in Maruapula where he met his untimely death. His alleged murderer from Maun is said to have hit him at the back of his head with a brick and a beer bottle, which left him dead on the spot.

They allegedly quarrelled after he stepped on the deceased’s foot. The suspect then ran to UB and told his friends that he had killed Man in Town. Criminal Investigation officers from Central Police station found the suspect on Sunday morning hiding at a friend’s dormitory, with bloodstains on his clothes.

He then took police officers to the scene of the incident. The suspect was arrested and appeared at Extension II magistrate court on Monday morning and was granted bail of P8000.

In an interview with The Midweek Sun, Makabe’s father Daniel Letlole expressed anger at the police for granting the suspect bail. “We suspect something fishy. Why did they take him to court and release him without involving us? It took less than 48 hours for him to be released and no efforts were made to ensure we are also aware,” he said.

According to Letlole, Man in Town’s past as a cellphone snatcher may have worked against him ‘as the same police officers and magistrate that always held his cases are behind the discharging of his murderer.’ His other concern is that the police have kept the suspect’s family a secret.

The expectation, he said, is that, the suspect’s family should have come to Makabe’s family for decent discussions about the tragedy and way-forward. “My son’s reputation with the police could be the reason they have neglected us,” he said.

Even though Man in Town was popular for criminal acts, his family however said he was well behaved at home. They admit he always got into trouble with the law after drinking alcohol at bars. “Here at home, he was not violent. He was a quiet person who loved kids and doing household chores,” said his sister Mmapaseka Makabe.

In response, Central Police station, Acting Station Commander Assistant Superintendent Keoagile Tau said they were going to give the case the seriousness it deserves. He said they met with the family last week Thursday and gave them a brief report.

“Who are we to judge the deceased? This is a very sensitive case and we have to do our job properly,” he said, adding that they will keep the family posted as investigations continue. The 28 year-old man was buried on Saturday.