Members of the gangs of the men in blankets often flaunt and brag on Facebook and TikTok about the large sums of money that they earn through illegal mining in South Africa. The money is often displayed in bundles of tens or even hundreds of thousands of new R200 and R100 notes.
This content is for subscribers only. To subscribe, Click Here. Or Sign In
The trail of this money often does not end well. The men in blankets often kill each other and sometimes even kill people who are not involved in illegal mining over money. The sad story of Bokang Lillane of Ha Makoili, St Michael’s epitomises many such endings and the ruthlessness of the gangs of men in blankets in pursuit of that money.
Last Saturday, Bokang Lillane was laid to rest at Ha Makoili, in the area of St Michael’s, finally giving his family partial closure to an ordeal that has lasted two and a half years. Bokang disappeared on January 28, 2022.
He was abducted a few metres from his house and his corpse was found several months later. After the funeral, I linked up with Lebusang Lillane, 40, who was a twin brother of Bokang to narrate the story of his brother’s disappearance and the untimely death at the hands of suspected gangs of men in blankets.
His story is as follows:
Bokang and I worked at a quarry here in St. Michael’s. One day in 2018 Bokang was approached by Tumo Ramataboe, a friend with whom we worked at the quarry. Ramataboe said he wanted Bokang and I to join illegal mining operations in South Africa (Lekhomosha). Ramataboe left for the mines.
On my advice, Bokang declined the offer as I thought it was too dangerous and not worth it.
Sometime later, perhaps after several months, Ramataboe arrived in 2019, from his illegal mining endeavours and asked Bokang to accompany him to a football match in Ha Mantsebo.
Bokang gladly accompanied him. Ramataboe was in the company of someone I did not know, so there were three of them on the trip.
When they got to Qeme they passed their agreed destination to some other place where the car was parked. Bokang was left in the vehicle while Ramataboe and the other man walked a short distance to what appeared to have been a meeting place. After a short while they came back and they drove off to the football match.
That’s when the problems started. We later learnt that Ramataboe had been shot and killed in South Africa. We also heard that the other guy who was with them was also shot and killed. I do not know the details about their killings apart from the fact that they were killed by ‘Makhomosha’ who wanted their money from them.
Shortly after that people we do not know started approaching Bokang, threatening him to reveal to them where Ramataboe had hid their money. Bokang insisted he knew nothing about the money. The exact amount of money was unclear but they told us it filled a 12.5 kg sack.
Those people were very persistent as they came to this area at least five times in search of that money. They were travelling in two Honda Fit cars on every visit.
I remember on the third occasion they came there was a funeral night vigil in the village. I had just parted with my brother. As I approached my house I saw two Honda Fits approaching his house. I was suspicious so I went down to his house and checked. I met one guy who was close to my brother’s house and asked him what was happening. He told me that one of the guys in the Honda Fit had disembarked and walked straight to my brother’s house. He knocked at the door and introduced himself as a soldier on patrol from Semonkong looking for someone who was wanted in connection with some money that had disappeared. Bokang did not open the door.
A little later I met the same man and asked him what he was looking for at my brother’s house. We didn’t have a good conversation. I got very angry, drew my stick and struck him on the head with it. In no time the whole village descended on the place and all the six men in the two Honda Fit vehicles were arrested by the villagers and taken to the Chief’s place.
The Roma police later took them to the station.
At the police station, the six men said they were looking for their money and Bokang probably knew where it was because he had been seen with the two men, Ramataboe and the unidentified man, who had been tasked with couriering the money to Lesotho. Bokang categorically denied that he had ever had or even seen such money.
The six people nonetheless insisted that Bokang should commit himself to repaying that money but he refused.
The following day the men were charged and released on bail. I cannot recall the charges.
After that, they came back for the fourth and fifth time. It was on the fifth occasion that my brother disappeared. That was in 2019.
On the day of his disappearance, we had been together at a local public bar until very late. He went to his place and I went to mine. I was however feeling very unsettled so I was still awake at around 1am when there was a knock at my door.
When I opened the door it was a guy I knew well as his home is in the village of Ha Makoili. He told me that he and my brother had been kidnapped and were taken to Ha Ramaqhanyane which is close to Mokema.
He further told me that my brother had been badly tortured and taken away by Makhomosha, whereas he (the second abductee) had been returned and dropped off. My brother and this guy had been abducted at gunpoint and a taser was also used to give them electric shocks, I was told.
We went to the area and searched for the whole night but could not find him. We also went to Maqalika dam since the abductee had also told us that the kidnappers had told them that if Bokang did not hand over the money they would throw him into the Maqalika dam in Maseru.
In the course of the following morning, the guy with whom Bokang had been kidnapped went to a local radio station and narrated his ordeal. That made us all suspicious of his role. We then approached the police and he was arrested.
The Roma Police then made several arrests but once again the guys were released on bail and the case went cold. We still did not know whether my brother was alive or not.
After about 18 months we were told that my brother had been found. He had been killed and dumped into the Caledon River somewhere in the area of Ha Foso. His alleged killers took us there along with the police.
I have never been so traumatised (He breaks out into tears). But once again there was no corpse. You can imagine Ntate, we were told that his mouth and eyes were masked with tape, and his hands and feet were tied with wire then he was thrown into the river alive. The river took him and he died in the course of it taking him downstream (he sighs and gasps for air as tears roll down his cheeks).
After several months passed the Roma police told us the South African Police Service (SAPS) had found a body not too far away from the Maseru Bridge.
The news arrived just days before Bokang was supposed to be buried by the SAPS as an unidentified and unclaimed corpse. We had been all over including consulting shamans and diviners in an attempt to find him. I listened to every radio notice relating to unidentified bodies and always did a follow-up to try and find if it was not my brother.
The police told us that the corpse was at the Ladybrand mortuary but we would only get it once investigations were completed. I was then called and the SAPS took a saliva swab for a DNA test. I was also told that the test results would come after three months.
After four months I was told that the tests were inconclusive as they had been contaminated, so I had to go with Bokang’s son (he is 13 years old now) for another test. Swabs were taken and we waited another three months.
Those tests also seemed to have a problem and we had to go for a third test with my elder brother and my twin brother’s son. We waited for another three months then it was concluded that indeed those were the remains of my brother.
We then went to the mortuary to identify the corpse. I held my brother in my hands and cried.
At least now his remains have been brought home to rest.
The pain is nonetheless endless. I meet his killers now and then. I meet the men who allegedly aided in his abduction. Recently that man came to me and asked me to buy him a beer.
I wanted to kill him with my bare hands. The bar owner noticed the moment and intervened. I now have the responsibility of bringing up my brother’s son and I can’t afford to go to prison.
Such is the pain I feel daily. However, the police have assured me they are working on the case. This has been a very painful journey.
I swear by the living God my brother was innocent. He knew nothing about the money. If he had the money, I’m sure he could have at least bought cars for himself and me. But he did not do that because the money was never with him. He built his house with money from his wife who works as a maid.
My brother was a fighter and his spirit continues to fight until justice is served. We are grateful for the support from the police.
Five men (aged between 25 and 48) and one woman (43) have been charged with the murder of Bokang Lillane. The woman is still at large and is suspected to be in hiding in South Africa.
Setsabi is a senior lecturer at the National University of Lesotho.
