Public stunned as Ramogapi shifts from defender of 'whistleblower' to accuser
The political arena is often fraught with instances where leaders, once staunch defenders of certain principles or individuals, reverse their stance upon attaining power. Such is the case with Palapye Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Onneetse Ramogapi. Known for his vocal defense of social media personality Tshepo Sethibe while in opposition, Ramogapi is now taking legal action against the very individual he once fiercely defended.
This unexpected development has left many in shock and disbelief. During his time in opposition, Ramogapi fiercely criticized the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)-led government for what he perceived as harassment of Sethibe. The founder of Moeladilotlhoko News Boiler, Sethibe had been arrested for publishing alarming content, which allegedly pointed to some politicians being involved in a case of suspected ritual murder. At the time, Ramogapi argued that the authorities should collaborate with Sethibe rather than silence him.
Ramogapi, who is now a minister under the new government of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), has moved from defender to accuser, seemingly forgetting that during a parliamentary session last year, he stood firm against the government’s crackdown on Moeladilotlhoko. Addressing then-Minister of Justice and Security, Thomas Mmusi, he argued that authorities should collaborate with Sethibe rather than treating him as an enemy. "The government should be willing to work with people like Moeladilotlhoko, not make them the enemy. When a person is missing and Moeladilotlhoko tries to blow the whistle, he is arrested. People will soon believe the government is covering up the truth. You should be getting leads from him, not locking him up," Ramogapi had passionately stated during the parliamentary session.
He added then: “Yanong motho wa Modimo yo dirang tiro e ntle wa tshwarwa, kere nnyaa rre Mmusi a ko o seka-seke dikgang tse gore nako le nako ha a ntsha kgang wa tshwarwa.” Loosely translated to, “An innocent man is always arrested whenever he tries to speak, please minister, reconsider these acts.”
Ramogapi's defense of Sethibe earned him praise from Moeladilotlhoko’s supporters, who viewed him as a leader committed to transparency and justice. However, the dynamics have shifted dramatically under the new government of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), with Ramogapi now accusing Sethibe of defamation and reporting him to the police.
The legal action stems from allegations made by Sethibe linking Ramogapi to the disappearance of a 70-year-old man from the Central District. The elderly man's disappearance, just days before the October 2024 national elections, has sparked speculation of a ritual murder.
During a recent kgotla meeting, Ramogapi confirmed that he had taken legal steps to clear his name. "I have delivered letters. I am a forgiving person, but today, I will not forgive anyone," he stated, adding that he would sue all those tarnishing his reputation and demand public apology and compensation for defamation.
Sethibe's history of run-ins with the law includes arrests related to his independent investigations into high-profile disappearances and murders. His troubles can be traced back to 2021, when together with his team, they were arrested and charged while trying to investigating the disappearance of Obakeng Badubi. The family has since been handed over bones said to belong to Badubi. In 2022, things got heated up for Sethibe following the tragic disappearance and murder of six-year-old Tlotso Karema in Lobatse.
Through his Facebook platform, Moeladilotlhoko conducted independent investigations, interviewing sources in a bid to uncover the truth. At the height of public outrage, former Finance Minister Thapelo Matsheka was arrested, with allegations linking him to the boy’s disappearance. Riots erupted in Lobatse’s Peleng ward, leading to the destruction of buildings as angry mobs demanded justice. Sethibe’s role in the matter drew the ire of law enforcement. At one point, he teamed up with traditional healer Rrabeisane, claiming they would locate Tlotso alive, dismissing suggestions that he was dead. The police accused him of misleading the public and undermining their investigations, especially after DNA tests confirmed that the bones found belonged to the child.
His arrests did not stop there. In October 2024, Sethibe was again taken into custody this time in Palapye—following the disappearance of 26-year-old Dennis Motsie, a teacher from Malaka Primary School. Motsie went missing on September 19, 2024, and Moeladilotlhoko’s reports implicated former Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Setlhabanelo Modukanele, along with members of his election campaign team. However, the case took an unexpected turn when Motsie was later discovered in South Africa, alive and well, before being repatriated to Botswana.
The unfolding legal battle between Ramogapi and Sethibe underscores the often unpredictable nature of political allegiances and the complexities of navigating power dynamics. At the height of the legal tussle that saw Sethibe arrested ahead of elections last year, even the Leader of Opposition, Dithapelo Keorapetse, called for the release of Sethibe, promising that the UDC government would protect whistleblowers like him once the party is voted into power. The UDC is at the helm now, with Keorapetse now the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the pattern of arrests has remained the same. The public will undoubtedly watch closely to see how this saga impacts both Ramogapi's political career and Sethibe's standing as a controversial social media influencer.
This unexpected development has left many in shock and disbelief. During his time in opposition, Ramogapi fiercely criticized the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)-led government for what he perceived as harassment of Sethibe. The founder of Moeladilotlhoko News Boiler, Sethibe had been arrested for publishing alarming content, which allegedly pointed to some politicians being involved in a case of suspected ritual murder. At the time, Ramogapi argued that the authorities should collaborate with Sethibe rather than silence him.
Ramogapi, who is now a minister under the new government of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), has moved from defender to accuser, seemingly forgetting that during a parliamentary session last year, he stood firm against the government’s crackdown on Moeladilotlhoko. Addressing then-Minister of Justice and Security, Thomas Mmusi, he argued that authorities should collaborate with Sethibe rather than treating him as an enemy. "The government should be willing to work with people like Moeladilotlhoko, not make them the enemy. When a person is missing and Moeladilotlhoko tries to blow the whistle, he is arrested. People will soon believe the government is covering up the truth. You should be getting leads from him, not locking him up," Ramogapi had passionately stated during the parliamentary session.
He added then: “Yanong motho wa Modimo yo dirang tiro e ntle wa tshwarwa, kere nnyaa rre Mmusi a ko o seka-seke dikgang tse gore nako le nako ha a ntsha kgang wa tshwarwa.” Loosely translated to, “An innocent man is always arrested whenever he tries to speak, please minister, reconsider these acts.”
Ramogapi's defense of Sethibe earned him praise from Moeladilotlhoko’s supporters, who viewed him as a leader committed to transparency and justice. However, the dynamics have shifted dramatically under the new government of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), with Ramogapi now accusing Sethibe of defamation and reporting him to the police.
The legal action stems from allegations made by Sethibe linking Ramogapi to the disappearance of a 70-year-old man from the Central District. The elderly man's disappearance, just days before the October 2024 national elections, has sparked speculation of a ritual murder.
During a recent kgotla meeting, Ramogapi confirmed that he had taken legal steps to clear his name. "I have delivered letters. I am a forgiving person, but today, I will not forgive anyone," he stated, adding that he would sue all those tarnishing his reputation and demand public apology and compensation for defamation.
Sethibe's history of run-ins with the law includes arrests related to his independent investigations into high-profile disappearances and murders. His troubles can be traced back to 2021, when together with his team, they were arrested and charged while trying to investigating the disappearance of Obakeng Badubi. The family has since been handed over bones said to belong to Badubi. In 2022, things got heated up for Sethibe following the tragic disappearance and murder of six-year-old Tlotso Karema in Lobatse.
Through his Facebook platform, Moeladilotlhoko conducted independent investigations, interviewing sources in a bid to uncover the truth. At the height of public outrage, former Finance Minister Thapelo Matsheka was arrested, with allegations linking him to the boy’s disappearance. Riots erupted in Lobatse’s Peleng ward, leading to the destruction of buildings as angry mobs demanded justice. Sethibe’s role in the matter drew the ire of law enforcement. At one point, he teamed up with traditional healer Rrabeisane, claiming they would locate Tlotso alive, dismissing suggestions that he was dead. The police accused him of misleading the public and undermining their investigations, especially after DNA tests confirmed that the bones found belonged to the child.
His arrests did not stop there. In October 2024, Sethibe was again taken into custody this time in Palapye—following the disappearance of 26-year-old Dennis Motsie, a teacher from Malaka Primary School. Motsie went missing on September 19, 2024, and Moeladilotlhoko’s reports implicated former Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Setlhabanelo Modukanele, along with members of his election campaign team. However, the case took an unexpected turn when Motsie was later discovered in South Africa, alive and well, before being repatriated to Botswana.
The unfolding legal battle between Ramogapi and Sethibe underscores the often unpredictable nature of political allegiances and the complexities of navigating power dynamics. At the height of the legal tussle that saw Sethibe arrested ahead of elections last year, even the Leader of Opposition, Dithapelo Keorapetse, called for the release of Sethibe, promising that the UDC government would protect whistleblowers like him once the party is voted into power. The UDC is at the helm now, with Keorapetse now the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the pattern of arrests has remained the same. The public will undoubtedly watch closely to see how this saga impacts both Ramogapi's political career and Sethibe's standing as a controversial social media influencer.
