04 Jan 2018

It is likely that 2017 will be remembered as one of the most tumultuous years marked by major campaigns by the police to uproot illicit drugs, love killings, road accidents, wildlife poaching and human trafficking. 

Only time will tell what 2018 will bring, but experts foresee a future in which the trends and pitched battles of 2017 will spill over into the coming year. There is no respite for the police and other law enforcement agencies as crime continues on an upward trend. In this article, we look at some of the big news stories that made headlines in the year under review.

 

Police operations

 

Of recent, Botswana Television (Btv) news channel has garnered outstanding viewership, but the centre of attraction was none other than “Boots,” the drug sniffer dog which was used by the police to uproot illicit drug substances. 

During the raids, “Boots,” as she is affectionately called, became a celebrity and marvel to watch as she left no stone unturned.

In one news episode, Boots made a record-breaking discovery when she fished out a bag containing over P19 000 in one of the houses in Broadhurst in Gaborone.

The money was the proceeds of dagga and other illicit drugs. Indeed, Boots is the most successful drug detection dog ever, if what we see on Btv is anything to go by. 

With her small inquisitive eyes, pronounced eyebrows, a wagging tail and a nose so sensitive, its appearance sends shivers down the spines of drug smugglers. 

This subjected her to threats from drug dealers who threatened to use chilli pepper to destroy her.

However, the good news is that the mother of 10 siblings is still alive and kicking and continues to do her job. During the campaign, the police managed to arrest more than 200 suspects with drugs amounting to over P2 million. 

The suspects, mostly repeat offenders, are languishing in jail awaiting trial.

 

Rape and Murder

 

There were several waves of rape and murder cases across the country which remain printed in the minds of many. A nine-year-old girl of Thebe Primary School in Gaborone was raped and murdered by her mother’s former boyfriend on November 21. 

The mother was away that fateful night when the suspect dragged the child to a nearby bush and raped her before he strangled her to death. The young girl was certified dead on arrival at the hospital while the suspect remains in police custody.

In another similar incident, a 33-year-old woman from Nkange was found dumped in the outskirts of Tlokweng in October.

Most of her valuables were recovered inside the bag. 

Police suspect that the woman was raped before being killed as used condoms were found at the scene.

The deceased was immediately buried at Phomolong Cemetery because her body was found in a badly decomposed state.

The method of operation appears to be gang rape as the Tlokweng area recorded a number of the cases with culprits targeting their victims at night. In one incident, two women who were sleeping together were attacked and one raped. 

Apparently, the culprit entered the house through the window whilst the duo were asleep,  and instructed them to give him their mobile phones and money before raping one of them. 

In another incident, a 21-year-old woman of Khaya-cool ward was also raped by an unknown man, and the suspect was never arrested to date.

In Broadhurst, a middle-aged-man of Lerala, Daniel Phadisa is languishing in jail after he murdered two women, (mother and daughter) Bembe Magosi and Gomolemo Motladiile at Phiring in Broadhurst on September 30 over a love affair dispute. 

Similar cases were recorded across the country during the year under review.

In Francistown, a rapist, Pelotlhomogi Thomas, who strangled his victim before proceeding to rape her was sentenced to 15 years in jail. Justice Barnabas Nyamadzabo said the accused’s actions were not only out of sync with his name, but were also incompatible with humanity. 

Pelotlhomogi translates to compassion and its synonyms, but that his actions were an antonym of compassion. Thomas was sentenced for raping his victim at Bolatlhaga cattle post in the Central District.

In July, the body of a 21-year-old woman of Lerala was found buried under the concrete floor at her boyfriend’s rented house in Tlokweng. 

The boyfriend, Kediemetse Mogotsi, 34, led the police to the house where he had buried his girlfriend, Maria Lesolebe.

 The exhumation attracted many residents who milled around until the young woman’s decomposed remains were discovered. The suspect has been charged with murder, and is still awaiting his case to be committed to the High Court for trial.

In November, the police shot and killed Adollphius Legae of Good Hope following an exchange of fire in Gaborone. Legae, 24, had been wanted by the police for various offences including robbery, rape and attempted murder that he and his accomplices committed since 2016. 

He skipped bail and escaped to South Africa where he was arrested and later reported to have escaped from lawful custody in that country while awaiting extradition to Botswana. 

After the shooting, a handgun and live ammunition were recovered from the deceased. Legae’s girlfriend has since been charged for harbouring a wanted suspect.

 

Events

 

Fake news symposium

 

This year, Botswana hosted a number of conferences that included the Fake news symposium which was officially opened by Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

The main aim of the conference was to discuss the digital space in the context of the law (elaw), media (digital media), digital crimes, digital evidence and securing the digital space. The headline speaker at the session was South African lawyer, Advocate Gerrie Nel, who was a state prosecutor for the National Prosecution Agency (NPA).

 

Judicial conference

 

UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR) Botswana in conjunction with University of Botswana (UB) Department of Law also held a four-day workshop for members of the judiciary, media practitioners and allied professionals on international and national refugee laws. 

The purpose of the workshop was to capacitate participants in international law which has in recent years been the focus of some important decisions in the Botswana courts of law as well as dealing with refugee issues and related matters.

 

Woman dies at GIMC festival

 

In September, a woman died at a Gaborone International Music and Culture Festival at the National Stadium. Following the death of the 20-year-old

 University of Botswana (UB) student, the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC), Thapelo Olopeng announced a ban of all planned musical activities at the National Stadium and alcohol at festivals. 

However, Cabinet later reversed the decision and warned that if a similar incident was to happen, no activities would be held at the multi-purpose stadium.

 

Court Cases

 

The Public Service Act Case

 

The Court of Appeal set aside the decision of the High Court that granted permission to civil servants to participate in primary elections of political parties which was contrary to Section 5 (5) (b) of the Public Service Act. 

Initially, the High Court had ruled that the Public Service Act (PSA) does not prohibit public officers from participating in political party primary elections.

However, government appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal arguing that Section 5(5) (b) of the PSA do prohibit public officers to participate in political party’s primary elections.

The case came after the Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) and National Amalgamated Central, Local and Parastatals Manual Workers Union (NALCGPWU) took the Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) to court seeking a determination on the legal interpretation of Section 5 (5) (b) of the Public Service Act No 30 of 2008.

The lawsuit followed a November 2013 directive from the then former Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Mr Eric Molale prohibiting all public officers from participating or voting in political parties’ primary elections. ENDS