Teacher’s return deepens kidnapping saga
A crooked arm, fresh deep cuts on the head, and black marks above the ankles: this was the shocking state of Dennis Motsie, the lost and found 26-year-old teacher when he was reunited with his family after disappearing for 56 agonising days.
Motsie, a teacher at Malaka Primary School, disappeared under mysterious circumstances on September 19th, sparking accusations of kidnapping for ritual purposes.
His disappearance caused unrest in the region, with riots in Lecheng, Malaka and Ratholo villages leading to damage of property and the subsequent arrest of 71 people.
Now, instead of bringing joy, his return has left his family grappling with unanswered questions.
Speaking exclusively to The Voice, Dennis’s cousin, Gaboutlwelwe Madikwe, who is also the family spokesperson, recounted the unsettling events leading to Motsie’s homecoming.
He said last Friday (November 15, 2024) they received a call from the police around 1900hrs asking them to assist in identifying someone they suspected could be Dennis.
Accompanied by Dennis’ elder sister, Kebareng Motsie, they embarked on a puzzling late-night journey to Tlokweng border post.
“They were not specific about the border post we were heading to, we just assumed that they meant Martins Drift border post, but we ended up driving all the way to the Tlokweng border,” said Madikwe.
He said to their surprise, when they arrived in Mahalapye, the police asked them to order dinner from a fast-food outlet during the trip.
“We were taken aback by that request. If the police already knew it was him, they should have just brought him home,” Kebareng questioned.
She said what followed was a long awkward trip to the border.
“We arrived at around midnight, and we proceeded to no man’s land where we found Dennis in the company of a man who we later learned was a police attaché to South Africa,” said Madikwe.
“When asked if he knew us, Dennis answered in the affirmative and proceeded to call us by names and even recited our phone numbers from memory,” Madikwe added.
The reunion has, however, left the family with more questions than answers.
“The question is if Dennis was in Marabastad, Pretoria like the police say, and he knew his siblings’ contact details, why didn’t he call us. Where was he staying since September? Was he on the streets?” Madikwe asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
Kebareng, who described her brother as a devoted Christian and hardworking teacher, dismissed earlier police claims that Dennis might have voluntarily left.
“He’s not the kind to just run away or go on holiday as the police had earlier put it. Who goes on a vacation leaving behind his cellphone, passport and his door ajar? Something does not add up,” she said.
The family say Dennis returned with physical injuries that tell of an ordeal yet to be fully uncovered.
“My brother has arrived with a crooked arm, like someone whose hands had been tied together for too long. He also has deep scars on his skull, and dark marks above his ankles, which we believe were caused by a rope,” Motsie said.
She further said they want to give Dennis space and time to heal, and hope that he returns to his passion as a teacher.
“He remembers some things, but he still doesn’t know how he ended up in South Africa. He’ll tell us when he’s ready,” she said.
The Voice attempted to reach out to Police Assistant Commissioner, Dipheko Motube, without any success.
In the press release, the police only mentioned that Dennis was traced and located with the help of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and members of the community in South Africa.
