SAD SCENE: Grandfather Rekiso pointing to the tree where Ntungamili was found hanging
GRANDFATHER WEEPS AFTER ABUSED BOY (9) HANGS HIMSELF
The troubled life of an orphaned nine-year-old Nata Primary schoolboy came to a tragic end last Wednesday morning when he was found hanging from a mopane tree.
Ntungamili Rekiso’s grandfather wept as he pointed to the place where the lad, who is said to have suffered at the hands of his abusive foster parents, took his life after a dispute over his monthly social welfare food ration. He will be buried this weekend without even a picture to put on his funeral programme.
A villager found 9-year-old Ntungamili Rekiso’s lifeless body hanging from a mopane tree a stone’s throw from his foster parent’s house in Nata last Wednesday morning.
Although he left no suicide note, neighbours and relatives have blamed his foster parents for constantly abusing the little boy, sometimes even denying him food even though he was granted a food ration from the council.
The lad’s grieving grandfather, Kgosimang Rekiso (71) said that he was convinced that the reason the boy had committed suicide was because he was being abused.
“What I have gathered from asking around is that my grandson was sometimes denied food, and he used to stay in the bush for days because of the abuse at home. I am also told that he had long warned that he was going to hang himself, but no one took him seriously because people never cared about his life,” Rekiso said.
DENIES BLAME: Foster parent, Bame
The distraught man added that he would never forgive himself for having entrusted Ntungamili with the foster parents who are related to his late wife.
The old man, who is the children’s paternal grandfather and lives some distance away in Maitengwe village, said that since he lived alone he had agreed to let their grandmother’s sister take the boy and his two younger brothers after their mum passed away five years ago.
“Had I known that my grandchildren’s lives would be put at risk, I could have just taken them along with me to Maitengwe shortly after their mother’s death.”
The mourning grandfather went on to say: “After this funeral I won’t leave the remaining two boys alone here because I don’t want the same tragedy to happen again.”
Foster parent, Kemoetshoketse Bame however denied allegations that the boy took his life because he was being abused.
He described Ntungamili as a ‘mischievous child’ who used to steal from houses in the village and that he would always run away from home after being punished for his bad behaviour.
“I don’t agree that this boy was being abused at all. What I know is that he was very aggressive and never wanted to be corrected when he had done wrong,” Bame said explaining that Ntungamili’s performance at school was also very poor.
Concerning the issue of food rations, 50-year-old Bame said it was true that there was a dispute after Ntungamili had failed to get his monthly food basket because he was unable to write his signature.
“What I know is that two days before he refused to eat because other family members joked that because he could not write his name properly he would not get the food basket and would therefore starve.”
DEVASTATED: Grandfather Rekiso
Meanwhile a neighbour who asked not to be named alleged that Ntungamili was constantly abused and sometimes denied food by Bame and his wife. The neighbour said the boy had long warned that he would one day take his own life.
“Even on the day he took his life Ntungamili told his young brothers that he was going to hang because he had not been given any food,” she said.
Nata Police station commander Superintendent Otsile Fani confirmed that his officers were still investigating the incident, saying that it was too early to conclude that the boy committed suicide.
Although the Nata Social worker confirmed that she was aware of the incident, she refused to comment on the issue referring all questions to her superior. At the time at the time of going to press the officer responsible was out of the office.
scene
A moya wa gagwe o robale ka kagiso.
So everyone must wait because the Superior is out of the office.
The social worker better be monitoring the siutation with the other two children
My heart goes out to the Grandfather – can you imagine how he feels about the whole incident losing his grandson. One asks if children are being properly monitored once in Foster Care.
Even if a child is doing something wrong you do not starve them – there is a way of dealing with issues.
Neighbours should also be encouraged to report children they feel are being abused either to the Head of the Village, Police or Social workers
Someone should also monitor the Grandfather taking into account his age -The village should give him some form of support as he is grief stricken by this incident
This is a village do childrens organisations like Childline go into these places and educate the whole village on child abuse?
This saddens me. Ele gore disocial worker le mapodisi ba reng
This country needs to protects children and they need to know that they can get help readily and their problems solved by government officials without doubt or prejudice. This child would be alive if he knew how to access help when facing difficulties. There has to be public campaign to tell all kids about how to access help from government. This is shocking! An orphan having to take their own life at this age out of desperation. Really everyone failed this kid! Sickening shame!
Ditiragalo tsa lefatshe le, di botlhoko le tlhoka JESU. Kante ke bone bokhutlo ba lefatshe. The so called “ABUSE” ya segompieno ke eo e bolaya bana.
Chris you are so right there has to be a Public Campaign-the big question- will it ever happen?
One would have thought something would have been done when Late Nathan suffered at the hands of his abusive Mother and Father
We need a minister for children in this country if their issues are to be taken seriously! The current set up is not fit for purpose! Failing children is failing our country’s future! This is not negotiable! Kids protection and care should be sacrosanct!
If i was the social Worker i would remove the two children from the Foster Parents pending investigations to a safer place
Universal Childrens day is 20 November perhaps if the Voice does a special coverage on Children e.g. their rights what still needs to be done??
” Bame said explaining that Ntungamili’s performance at school was also very poor.”
Something must have been contributing to the childs poor performance and someone should have been seen to be doing something about it
There are some very shameful practices by authority figures in Botswana that make us a very unhappy nation. We are also a highly suicidal society, and our children are falling prey to this ill. Noone hears our voices and what more those of children. My child was persecuted and hounded into exile by social workers who are corrupt, cruel and vindictive. He is unhappy, wants to be with his mother, and news items like this make me REALLY concerned. Hateful, irresponsible authority figures make very young lives lose hope, trust, in the future. I pray for mine, and all our children’s mental health in this morally dysfunctional society
“Social workers who are corrupt, cruel, vindictive” – This is unacceptable
One wonders if organisations like Eg. Childline are being VOCAL
“We were all children once (yes we were!!). And we all share the desire for the WELL BEING of OUR CHILDREN, which has alwase been and will continue to be the most UNIVERSAL cherished aspirations of humankind” – an extract from the Universal Childrens Day
The childrens voices need to be HEARD
So please Voice our Plea to you do something for the Children on UNIVERSAL CHILDRENS DAY and make the CHILDRENS VOICES BE HEARD
This is really painful children like these need serious attention i think there should be a procedure or a strategy to care and monitor these children social workers alone cannot manage.
“My child was persecuted and hounded into exile by social workers who are corrupt, cruel and vindictive. He is unhappy, wants to be with his mother, ”
So they are not taking note of what the child wants? Who are they listening to?? How do they arrive at the decisions they make?
Maybe the Voice should have a column specially dedicated to Children making their voices heard NOW or else how many children out there continue to suffer from abuse and neglect? Can one imagine what is happening to children in orphanages
They should name and shame those that fail children
and it should include those in authority, Childrens organsations, social workers etc.
Sometimes just wish the world should be “Children” because some adults have failed them badly
SHAME INDEED”WHERE ARE WE HEADING ELDERS”U WERE ONCE A KID AND U KNOW DA PAIN OF NOT GETING ATTENTION 4RM THE ONES AROUND U.THINK ABOUT IT.SHAME