Villagers outraged

Matshelagabedi village was hit by a great shock this past weekend when two brothers, Meshack James (32), Kabelo James (29) and their special constable sister, Happy James (27) allegedly killed their father, Thomas James, 70.

A reliable source said the siblings’ bone of contention was that their father was seeing someone “too soon” after their mother had just passed away towards the end of last year.

Even though speculation about the man’s death is rife in the small, quiet and peaceful village, residents have expressed a great deal of loss and anger towards the murder. An elderly woman, Cecilia John who didn’t know her age, described the act as “monstrous,” saying she was still shell-shocked at the news.John says she has two children with the deceased.

“This is the first time that something like this happened in our village. I have never heard of such a thing in my life,” John said. She says today’s children have no order and want to call the shots on their parents.

“These days children want to control their parents, they do not want to hear their parents out, they think they are always right. What they say goes,” John said, adding: “It is not normal for a human being to be killed like that.

He was a human being, a humble man for that matter, he was loved by people. This is a human being, not a goat which can be dragged from the kraal and slaughtered just like that,” she cried.Another elder member of the village who preferred anonymity said what the siblings did is “cruel” and that he will not forgive them.

“I know that God said that he will come for us one by one in different ways but what they did is pure evil,” the man said. He said that even if the old man did something wrong he did not deserve to die like an animal. He said that the siblings had no right to do that to their father.

Matshelagabedi Chief, Oganne Polson also expressed great shock. He said what these children have done is cruel and evil. The Chief said: “Bana ba ba bosula ba sa jewe, ga ke dumele ga le ko legodimong ba tlaa tsena” (these children are wicked, I do not think they will enter into heaven.)Chief Polson said that children need to realise that their parents will always be their parents no matter what.

He said that it is very important for youngsters to know that they are where they are because of their parents. “Your parent is the one who raises you with great difficulty, how can you later turn your back and claim that you are special and have the guts to murder your parent in cold blood?” he thundered.The three siblings have since appeared before Francistown Magistrate, Kaveri Kapeko last week Thursday for the offence. Plea has been reserved in the matter. The investigating officer has pleaded that they be remanded in custody until investigations are complete. The trio is expected back in court on May 12 for status report.