We are devastated and outraged by the brutal and senseless killing of Magadi Mokganelwa. Her tragic death is not only a personal loss to her loved ones, but a sobering reminder of the persistent and deep- rooted violence that continues to plague our communities—violence that is gendered, targeted, and systemic.
As Botswana comes together to pray and reflect during the National Prayer against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), we must confront the uncomfortable truth: violence does not exist in a vacuum. It thrives in silence, in disbelief, and in systems that dismiss or diminish the experiences of survivors and victims.
Magadi’s death reflects the danger of not believing victims and survivors when they speak out. It reminds us that justice delayed—or denied—has fatal consequences. We are compelled to ask: how many more lives must be lost before we act with the urgency, compassion, and justice this crisis demands?
We stand in unwavering solidarity with Magadi’s family, friends, and all who mourn her. We honour her life by recommitting ourselves to dismantling the structures that enable violence—especially for those who live at the intersection of multiple forms of marginalisation, including queer, trans, and gender non- conforming persons.
LEGABIBO calls on government, faith-based organisations, civil society, and every citizen to:
Centre the voices of survivors and believe them,
Strengthen and enforce protections for marginalised groups,
Adopt inclusive and survivor-centred policies,
And urgently address the cultural, legal, and institutional factors that sustain violence.
Magadi deserved safety. She deserved to be heard. She deserved to live.
May her memory be a call to action—for justice, for protection, and for a Botswana where no one lives in fear simply for being who they are.