Esme Jood

Esme Jood

A family in a village near Mafikeng lost a breadwinner when an 11-year-old boy stabbed and killed his 16-year-old epileptic brother after they argued over a television programme.

Mafikeng police are investigating a murder case after the death of the boy from Lomanyaneng village, in North West.

The unnamed boy had an argument with his older brother, Tshepo Motsamai, 16, who was epileptic and received a government disability grant. The boys were with their aunt, Anna Motsamai, when they could not agree on which TV channel to watch.

Anna said she had tried to separate the boys when they started to fight.

She could not resolve the fight between the two boys. During the heated argument the suspect got a knife from the kitchen and stabbed his brother.

"I was trying to take the knife from my nephew but he stabbed him nonetheless. That knife could have stabbed me," said Anna.

Tshepo's grandmother, Emily Motsamai, said Tshepo had never attended school because of his sickness.

"I'm heartbroken because I was expecting a lot from Tshepo. He was the one who was receiving the government grant that helped us to buy food."