Lekhetho Ntsukunyane

PRIME Minister Pakalitha Mosisili has appealed to the family of the late Dr Makoae Taoana to give police a chance to investigate the circumstances surrounding his tragic death.

Dr Mosisili made the remark yesterday while addressing scores of mourners during the medical doctor’s funeral at Machabeng College in Maseru. Among the mourners were family members, senior government officials, principal chiefs, judges and diplomats as well as family friends.

Dr Taoana died on 19 July 2016 due to injuries sustained after his Mercedes Benz vehicle was engulfed by flames along Kofi Annan Road in Maseru. According to Dr Taoana’s family, he initially survived the fire, but later died while in hospital in Bloemfontein.

The premier made the plea in response to a direct appeal by one of Dr Taoana’s relatives, Limpho Mosoetsa, to ensure police investigations were undertaken to establish the cause of the fire.

Mr Masoetsa queried how a Mercedes Benz vehicle could burst into flames “just like that”.

“In a previous incident involving another relative of ours, we were informed that police investigations were in progress, but only later discovered they never even started,” he said.

“We are appealing to you prime minister to ensure the investigations are followed through to their finality.”

In his response, Dr Mosisili started by lauding Dr Taoana for his humility and dedication to serving Basotho in his medical practice.

He then urged the family to give a chance for investigations to be conducted by those “vested with the skills to do so”.

“I am not one of them (investigators). If I was, I would be in a position to know what happened to my late son, Maile,” Dr Mosisili said.

The premier’s son was gunned down in Maseru in 2002 under unclear circumstances.

Meanwhile, speakers took turns to praise Dr Taoana for his love for people, education, agriculture and sports; in particular golf and football.

One of the moving speeches was delivered by his eldest son, Kokolia, who said his father’s love was not like any other love he had seen.

“In all my 30 years, not once did I hear him utter the phrase ‘I love you’. Not to my mother, not to my brother, not to his granddaughter. “However, everything in his manner and conduct served as undeniable proof of his love. He adored my mother immensely, treating her like the finest gold. Well into his sixties and seventies, he never stopped behaving like a teenage boy courting his first love,” Kokolia said.

Dr Taoana is survived by his wife, Teboho, his two sons, Kokolia and Monyane and his granddaughter Lintle.