Gaolathe Galebotswe

“That’s not how we plan in the military.”

“The BDF is going through a rough time.”

“It goes way back. At some point when we went to Lesotho, there was an uproar with our MPs complaining that they had only heard through CNN that we were in Lesotho on a peace-keeping mission. The late General Mompati Merafhe was having exchanges with the late Paul Rantao on the issue and General Merafhe responded that they could not take MPs into their confidence because they could tell the enemy.”

“The Minister of Defence should always brief his colleagues and take them on board.”

“Commanders are not politicians and so have limitations on how to engage and to what extent with politicians.”

“It should be done through the Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security, which is the right structure. At some point former defence minister Ramadeluka Seretse asked this committee to allow him to be the one to present to them as an equal instead of the BDF commander, and he was allowed.”

“The issue of military air assets should have been tabled and addressed better, perhaps first by engaging Parliament through the relevant committee to make MPs appreciate what is at stake.”

“What we are seeing now also looks like lack of critical thinking.”

“We accepted it as part of life.”

“This is a twisted abuse of masculinity because men were given strength to protect, not to harm.”

“No circumstance justifies murdering a woman because she chooses to leave a relationship.”

“When someone is determined to commit a crime, it is difficult to prevent it. The real issue is not firearm security but a deeper societal problem.”

“The army enforces strict firearm handling protocols.”

“These incidents tarnish the military’s reputation and disgrace the nation.”

“What we are seeing today – soldiers turning their weapons on defenceless civilians, is an act of cowardice and a sign of moral decay. This issue needs urgent national attention.”

“Their role is to defend the country’s sovereignty from internal and external threats, guided by discipline, professionalism and a strict code of conduct.”

“A soldier’s duty is to protect the nation, its people and its interests.”