24 Oct 2013

Kang police fired tear gas canisters and warning shots to disperse people who were stealing from a horse and trailer truck that was involved in a road accident along the Trans Kalahari Highway on Sunday, October 20.

A release from the Botswana Police Service stated that the incident occurred after the truck that was loaded with pallets of beer overturned near Phuduhudu, spilling large quantities of beer on the road after the driver lost control of the vehicle.

On arrival at the scene, the police officers found people gathered at the scene of the accident and looting from the truck. The looters were reported to have come from Phuduhudu and the surrounding areas whilst others were people on transit.

It was reported that the crowd started throwing stones at the police officers who were at the scene and the police reacted by firing tear gas canisters and warning shots to disperse them.

A 62-year-old woman of Kang was injured, but was treated and discharged at Phuduhudu clinic on the same day. The truck was from Namibia on transit to South Africa when the driver lost control and it overturned. It is estimated that the truck was transporting around 36 pallets each containing 60 cases of beer.

The release stated that the Botswana Police Service had noted with concern a tendency by some members of the public who gathered at crime scenes with the sole intention of robbing victims. A similar incident occurred at Tewane settlement along the Gaborone/Francistown road last year and the police had to fire warning shots to disperse the crowd that was looting a truck that was involved in a road accident.

Other incidents were reported elsewhere in the country and they included; stealing property that was salvaged from burning houses or businesses. The Botswana Police service would therefore like to appeal to the public to desist from such kind of behaviour and to report anyone involved so that appropriate action could be taken against looters. ENDS