The Ramolala family in Kgomokasitwa village, just north of Lobatse, is cloaked in sorrow and unimaginable grief after losing their beloved matriarch, Elizabeth Ramolala (68), and her two grandchildren, aged 8 and 16, in a gruesome act of violence. The suspect, Moagi “Zaggie” Mokomeng, a 34-year-old Botswana Defence Force Lance Corporal and once a trusted family friend, is now the most wanted man, accused of committing the terrifying atrocities.
The tragedy is said to have unfolded after Mokomeng was served with a court order to answer for an alleged defilement case involving one of the family’s children. According to family spokesperson Loko Kgosiemang, the nightmare began in December 2023 when Mokomeng, after a night of heavy drinking, spent the night at the Ramolala home. The next morning, a child woke up in distress and revealed she had been sexually abused. The family then confronted Mokomeng, who allegedly fled to Gaborone but was later arrested by police.
Despite the arrest, the family said they heard nothing further about the case. Over time, they decided to distance themselves from Mokomeng following his boastful rants that the charges against him would “vanish.” “He once passed by and shouted that his defilement case was going to disappear,” recalled Keiphe Rakhudu, an aunt. “He never threatened us, but his confidence was unsettling,” she added.
On the night of the attack, Elizabeth Ramolala and her family had been served with court papers, finally setting a date for the defilement case to be heard. Hours later, their home became a scene of unimaginable horror. Neighbours said they heard gunshots and saw the house engulfed in flames. When they rushed to help, they found a terrified 13-year-old boy hiding inside the burning house. He told them how Mokomeng broke into the house, shot Elizabeth four times, and killed the 16-year-old Form 4 student with three bullets. The soldier is said to have then doused the house in petrol, set it ablaze, and threw the 8-year-old child into the fire before fleeing the scene.
The Ramolala family is now not only mourning their loved ones but also battling vicious rumours on social media that they had struck a deal with Mokomeng to drop the case. “We’ve heard those rumours that he gave us money and even built a house for us, but how can we possibly negotiate a defilement case? It’s all lies,” said Semaramara Lubinda, a relative. “Elizabeth built this house with her pension money. Mokomeng never contributed a single cent.”
Meanwhile, Mokomeng’s mother, Mmenyane Mokomeng, is in shock over her son’s actions. She revealed that after the attack, Mokomeng came to her home and confessed. “He told me, ‘I have killed people. I have burned them. You will never see me again,’ before disappearing into the night.” Mmenyane said that her son had grown distant from their family, spending most of his time at the Ramolala home, where he was treated like a family member. “I think the court case got the better of him,” she said, her voice trembling.
The incident has left both families shattered and divided, each holding separate gatherings as they mourn in fear of the man who was once part of their lives. Police have issued a statement, warning that Mokomeng is armed and extremely dangerous. “The suspect is reported to be armed and deemed dangerous,” read the media release from the police.
