23 Jun 2022

Security forces in the Directorate on Intelligence and Security Services (DIS)and Botswana Police Services (BPS) have promised to leave no stone unturned in little Tlotso Karema case.

The six-year old boy went missing mid-March.

They made the promise during a kgotla meeting, in Peleng on Wednesday.

The DIS director general, Mr Peter Magosi assured the multitudes of residents, who braved extreme cold conditions to attend the meeting, that security forces would handle the case transparently.

Mr Magosi called for the formation of a joint operation team with the family and the community in resolving the case of the six-year-old Lobatse boy, who has been missing for three months.

He requested residents to choose representatives to join the operation team that would work hand in hand with security forces and the family in finding a resolution to the matter.

He made assurances security forces would go the extra mile in dealing with the matter.

“We met the town leadership last week and they narrated to us all the events relating to this matter.

We take responsibility and ask for forgiveness for any mistakes that our officers could have unintentionally committed in handling this matter. It is our intention to move forward with you in this matter,” he told the community.

Deputy Police commissioner, Mr Cornelius Lesola pleaded with the community to maintain trust and confidence in the security forces and also remain calm and observe law and order as investigations continue.

“Allow us to do the job you have entrusted to us so that we can eventually find what has happened to the child,” said the deputy commissioner.

BPS divisional commander, Mr Harrison Digobe said extensive work had already been done in search of the boy, including combing the Peleng Hills, which is nearer to the boy’s home.

He said there was then a tip off about some bones found somewhere, which the police followed.

He said they found the bones and some clothes, which the family identified as those of their son.

“The first process was to check if the bones belonged to the missing child. We involved our forensic officers, who took samples from the mother and conducted a DNA test.

The DNA test results matched, which suggests that the bones could be that of the missing child,” he said.

Mr Digobe said the police were now investigating a murder case and asked the community to be patient.

He further asked anyone with information that could assist in resolving the matter to contact the police, adding law enforcement services were not against the family or the community asking for assistance from traditional doctors or anyone, as long as they did not violate the rights of other people.

Peleng Customary Court president, Ms Tshegofatso Setumo said the child had been missing since March 18, 2022.

Several residents who spoke at the meeting expressed frustration at how the police had handled the case thus far and said they should allow the boy’s family and the community to enlist help of traditional doctors. BOPA