15 Nov 2022

Wadza Nthoiwa was on Monday extradited to Botswana from South Africa and subsequently remanded in custody by Broadhurst Magistrate Court.

Nthoiwa, 33, who faces a single count of armed robbery committed in Francistown dating back to September 19, 2016, was handed over to the Botswana judicial officers at Tlokweng Border Post from South Africa. Appearing before Broadhurst magistrate, Mr Mareledi Dipate moments after his handing over,  Nthoiwa asked the court to assist him to communicate with his family, saying they were not aware that he was in the country.

He expressed no qualms with being remanded in custody for 14 days, saying he was yet to seek legal counsel on how to proceed with his matter. When motivating for Nthoiwa’s remand, Mr Omphemetse Makale from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), said the fugitive had just been handed over to the local authorities after fleeing the country following the alleged commission of the crime.

“Subsequent to the commission of the offence, the DPP had no luck in bringing the accused person to the court,” he said. He said Botswana started the extradition process with  South African authorities on June 10, 2022, adding that due processes of extradition were followed.

 Furthermore, Mr Makale said remanding the suspect would allow the DPP to register a substantive matter before Francistown Magistrate’s Court, as the alleged crime was committed in Francistown. Magistrate Dipate thus remanded the Nthoiwa in custody until November 28, as requested by the state.

According to the court records, Nthoiwa was alleged to have on or about September 19, 2016, at Francistown in the North East District, armed with a pistol, robbed a certain Sheppard Jabulani of an Altezza motor vehicle and cash amounting to P13 000. The self-employed Nthoiwa allegedly threatened  the victim with pistol in order to obtain the said goods.

ENDS