The 17th of May 2026 marks one year since Tshepi died, under circumstances that led her father to ask Re A Bua Foundation to help him understand what happened to his child.
Throughout 2025, Tshepi's father pleaded with the Botswana Police Service to investigate his daughter's death. As an NGO tasked with fighting gender-based violence against the girl child, Re A Bua was enlisted to assist him with private investigations. When the official investigation stalled and failed to account for the events around her passing, we rallied the social movement that questioned the conduct of the investigation and petitioned the Office of the President and Parliament.
Ahead of the public march on 9 April 2026, our online petition gathered more than **60,000 signatures**. It was received by then-Acting President Mr Ndaba Gaolathe. On 24 April 2026, the government responded through the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mr Moeti Mohwasa: the case had been handed to the Department of Public Prosecution, with an update promised by 15 May 2026.
We are still waiting.
The #JusticeForTshepi timeline
- **17 May 2025** — 13-year-old Tshepi dies; the BPS declares it a suicide.
- **21 May 2025** — A post-mortem is conducted in Francistown, with disturbing findings.
- **25 May 2025** — Tshepi is laid to rest in Francistown.
- **June 2025 – January 2026** — The case goes cold. No suspects, no arrests, no interviews. Her father keeps pushing.
- **20 February 2026** — Re A Bua Foundation engages the social justice movement, following advocacy-NGO protocols.
- **Before 9 April 2026** — An online petition gathers more than 60,000 signatures.
- **9 April 2026** — A peaceful protest marches to Parliament. A petition is handed to Acting President Ndaba Gaolathe, with a two-week window to respond.
- **24 April 2026** — Minister Moeti Mohwasa says the case is with the DPP, and sets 15 May 2026 for the way forward.
- **15 May 2026** — We await the update promised by the DPP and the Minister's office.
- **17 May 2026** — One year on, we mark Tshepi's passing.
- **2 June 2026** — Update #2: an open inquest. Government and independent parties move to clear the way forward, and Minister Mohwasa updates the nation.
We are still here
The fight continues. An open inquest is a step, not an answer, and we will keep standing with the family until there is justice and the systems that failed one child are rebuilt for all of them.
On the anniversary of Tshepi's passing, we remind the government that we are waiting, with patience and with hope. May Tshepi's passing not be in vain.
*Re eme ka tsholohelo. Aluta continua.*
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