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Woman crushed to death at Gaborone culture fest

5 Sep 2017 - 14:44

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

A woman died at the Gaborone International Music and Culture Week (GIMC) on 2 September. The woman, whose name and age have been withheld for the time being, was crushed to death when a number of people forced their way inside the Botswana National Stadium during local rapper ATI’s performance.

Thapelo Pablinga said the woman died while trying to get inside the stadium. Photo: Botswana Unplugged

“It happened outside the stadium about 10pm and we want to send our condolences to the deceased’s family,” GIMC founder Thapelo Pablinga told Music In Africa.

“There were police, security guards and bouncers at the entrance. You experience such incidents when people force their way inside an event. Tickets to the event were sold out and those who did not get tickets forced themselves inside the event and that woman died while trying to get inside.”

Asked if he was planning to assist the family with funeral arrangements, Pablinga said: “I have yet to meet the family.”

The police also confirmed the news. “At the moment we still do not know what happened,” Senior Superintendent Bonosi Molapisi said. “Her body was found lying helplessly on the ground and she was taken to hospital where she was certified dead upon arrival.”

Responding to what measures the organisers are working on to make sure that there is no repeat of a stampede at future GICM events, Pablinga said: “I need to gather myself and see what I want to do.”

Gaborone International Music and Culture Week (GIMC)