Africa-Press – Botswana. 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, after living with a chronic illness for a long time.
She was her son’s pillar of strength and would attend Letsile’s local races. Last year she made a surprise attendance at the World Championships held 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 funeral arrangements were ongoing and further 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 condemned “the insensitive behaviour of those who chose to prioritise breaking the news” over empathy.
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