20 May 2024

The country is mourning the death of Seratiwa Tebogo, the mother of Botswana’s track star, Letsile Tebogo.

Seratiwa took her last breath on Sunday at Gaborone Private Hospital, where she had been admitted.

A pillar of strength for her son, Seratiwa attended Letsile’s local races, and last year she made a surprise attendance at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary to watch him make history as the first African to win a silver medal in 100m finals.

The family spokesperson Ralph Kgabanyane told BOPA that they were shattered by Seratiwa’s demise given that on Thursday she had shown signs of improvement and was due to be discharged from the hospital, only for her condition to deteriorate, leading to her death on Sunday.

He said funereal arrangements were ongoing and details would be communicated in due course.

Kgabanyane said though the family appreciated that she was the mother of a celebrated athlete, it was disappointing and hurtful that her death was announced on the social media before the family could even notify Letsile.

Meanwhile, a press release from the family indicates that Seratiwa leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and unwavering support for her children and the family at large.

It says she passed away while her son was in the United States representing the country at Los Angeles Grand Prix.

“While we go through this time of immense grief and loss, we are deeply troubled by the actions of certain media outlets responsible for sharing the news of her passing without consulting our family first,” says the release.

“The breach of trust and blatant disregard of his emotions and privacy has only added to our anguish during this difficult time,” it says

The statement condemns ‘the insensitive behaviour of those who chose to prioritise breaking the news’ over empathy. ENDS