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Slain Molepolole taxi driver laid to rest

LAID TO REST: Ofitlhile's coffin

A Molepolole taxi driver who was on Tuesday shot dead in cold blood was this morning laid to rest amid emotional scenes of anguish and disappointment.

A cloud of grief engulfed Garanta cemetery as Ofitlhile ‘Fix Honey’ Ofitlhile’s casket was lowered into the grave, emotional voices cutting through the morning air in a crescendo of high pitched wails.

Business at the taxi rank also temporarily came to a stand still as taxi drivers- in a spirit of solidarity, took time away from their daily routine to join the deceased’s friends and family to bid their departed comrade  farewell.

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As speaker after speaker took turns giving their eulogies, deceased’s elder sister, Boikobo Kenosi, rose from the crowd, giving an account of how her brother had just resumed work after a two-month’s leave when he met his fate. “Fix Ra-Gaone Rragwe Boy Boy is my brother, I want to break the sadness in my heart. Sometimes we get tested in a painful way, it’s not easy but we are trying. The most sad thing is that towards December Fix went on leave till January. We even had a long meeting last Saturday planning to unveil our father’s tombstone. He was such a soft-spoken person and I loved him so much. Whenever he didn’t like something he addressed it smoothly,” said the broken-hearted Kenosi.

She continued saying, “Fix loved singing songs for Franco and Chama Gal, he also loved telling the truth. I want to tell you that this incident shattered our hearts as the nation but let us believe God and know that to have peace and be healed in our hearts we need to forgive. We don’t know what really transpired but it shall be well.”

Friends and relatives described Ofitlhile as a humorous, supportive, humbled and respecting man who loved his family and people.

Bakwena Taxi Association Spokesperson, Kenanao Motswana, a leader of 327 Molepolole taxis said the late Ofitlhile joined them as a taxi drivers since 2016.

Ofitlhile’s alleged killer, 33-year-old Mohamed Sadiq Tajbhai is said to have met the deceased at Borakalalo Choppies and requested him for a special trip to drop him at Borakalalo ward where he later shot him dead when Ofitlhile demanded taxi fare.

ALLEGED KILLER: Mohammed Sadiq Tajbhai (L)

“The deceased was shot three times, on the thigh, chest and on the arm, I saw the body myself. We have a problem that we do not share information. Let us not fear to report and give the police information. There are about three taxi drivers that escaped death last week, the suspect threatened to shoot them after he booked special from them. It was unfortunate and saddening that information was never shared and it was only disclosed after Ofitlhile’s death,” revealed the saddened Bakwena Taxi Association spokesperson before dismissing social media reports that Ofitihile was a friend to the accused and that they were drug dealers saying such rumours are false and misleading.

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He said Ofitlhile did not know the suspect and that he only met him for the first time on the fateful day.

The deceased is survived by his wife, daughter, mother, four brothers and three sisters.

Meanwhile Tajbhai was arraigned before Molepolole Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with counts of murder, robbery and malicious damage to property. He was remanded in custody till next mention set for February 16th, 2023.

BEREAVED: Fellow taxi drivers
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