25 Apr 2019

A Zimbabwean national is facing a single count of setting alight two houses belonging to some families near Kumakwane.

He was arraigned this week before Molepolole magistrate, Ms Rosemary Khuto.

The accused, Tennyson Ngwenya, allegedly torched the hut of Ms Kelemogile Batsietsi at Mogononong lands on March 27 damaging properties worth over P14 000.

The prosecutor, Mr Moshe Karabo, requested the magistrate to detain Ngwenya, arguing that he was a flight risk because he did not have a reliable residential address in Botswana.

Mr Karabo further argued that the police were still working on preliminary investigations as the matter was at an infancy stage.

In a recent interview with Thamaga Police Station Commander, Superintendent Moses Kwarare, he said the alleged arsonist torched three houses belonging to two different families.

He was on the run for three weeks until he was nabbed at his girlfriend’s home in Tsolamosese following a tip-off.

The incident sent shock waves to residents of Mogononong Lands, compelling them to stay in groups as the suspect was allegedly threatening to cause more damage in retaliation for his damaged trucks by the villagers.Superintendent Kwarare said the incidents were sparked by the trading of illegal sand along the Metsimotlhabe River.

In a separate incident, a Molepolole magistrate denied bail to a 59-year-old man of Mmanoko for allegedly threatening to kill his wife.

The suspect, John Thupane, allegedly threatened to kill his wife by uttering the words ‘fa nka tswalelwa ke ya go tsaya dilwana tsotlhe tse o di tsereng ke bo ke go bolaya.’

The prosecutor, Maureen Segokgo objected to the accused bail application, saying he was not a candidate of bail as he was likely to cause more harm to the complainant as they hailed from the same village.

The defence attorney, Ms Legolo Relaeng dismissed the prosecution, urging that it would be unfair to prolong the accused detention over an argument that lacked substance. ENDS