28 May 2019

 Proceeds of the this year’s annual charitable festival dubbed Overthrust winter Mania, will be used to lay granite at a grave where one of its members was laid to rest last December. 

According to the leader of the Overthrust band, Tshomarelo Mosaka, the deceased Gakeitse Botlhalentwa, lost his life after vehicle hit him at Thiite Shopping Complex in Ghanzi on Christmas Day. 

“The weekend festival was to celebrate the life of Botlhalentwa, who was well-known as ‘Suicide Torment’ in the Rock and roll family. The festival had to take a break to allow the cohorts to lay wreaths on his grave, where they made a commitment to put up a tombstone in October followed by unveiling in December,” Mosaka said. 

He also said a portion of the returns would be donated to the deceased’s eight year-old son.

Officiating at the event, acting Ghanzi East Senior Assistant Council Secretary, Leronamang Garenamotse commended the gesture, saying  they were pursuing the mandate of social responsibility that the council advocates for. 

Garenamotse said the festival did not provide an alternative entertainment only, but attracted the international community who in turn contributed positively towards the tourism sector and economy. 

“It also promotes cultural exchange, as they host people across the globe,” Garenamotse said.

District AIDS Coordinator, Kebabonye Thamuku hailed the festival from which proceeds have been used to help the less privileged members of the society. He indicated that over P40 000 had so far benefitted some of them. 

  A rock and roll family member from Iita Mantynen band in Germany, Marcus Lorenzen said he was impressed by the reception in the Botswana. 

“It is my first time in Africa but people here are totally different, friendly and very humble,” he said. ENDS