24 Apr 2020

Baines Drift police station commander Mr Onneetse Gagogosha has sounded concerns over harbouring and employing illegal immigrants.

He said since the beginning of a national 28-day lockdown to control the spread of COVID-19, Baines Drift Police recorded 11 cases of illegal immigrants involving 14 persons. Superintendent Gagogosha said 12 illegal immigrants were from Zimbabwe whilst two were from South Africa.

Also, Mr Gagogosha explained that majority of illegal immigrants were nabbed working at Semela cattleposts, west of Tsetsebjwe. The illegal immigrants were charged with illegal entry into Botswana.

Mr Gagogosha said the station had also charged the employers of illegal immigrants for hiring non-citizen without permit and harbouring illegal immigrants.

The Baines Drift police chief revealed that majority of the cases were reported to them by concerned citizens whilst some few illegal immigrants were nabbed during police operations. Baines Drift Police station covers villages of Moletemane, Mathathane and Tsetsebjwe.

On other issues, Mr Gagogosha expressed concern over brewing and consumption of setopoti, a brew of fermented watermelons. So far 11 people were charged with concocting the brews and consuming them. They have also charged seven people with failure to confine oneself.

In Bobonong policing area, station commander Superintendent Paul Seoko reported that the station recorded 15 cases of illegal immigrants who had been harboured and employed without permits.

He also expressed concern over brewing of setopoti in his policing area. He observed that people were flocking lands and cattle-posts where they would concoct brews such as setopoti, jabulani and chibuku from sachets.

So far the station has charged over five people with brewing traditional brews.

Mr Seoko expressed gratitude that bar operators observed regulations. So far the station has not charged any bar operator for contravening the regulations. Ends