DEATH FOR BOOZE
Man killed in fight for alcohol: 9 of 10 men arrested
Police officers allegedly implicated
ASouth African man died this past weekend in Ramotswa after he was battered by over 10 Batswana men. The 42-year-old South African was discovered by the police at the back of a Toyota Land Cruiser when they stopped the vehicle for search and question.
“It was way past curfew time and when the police stopped the vehicle the other men immediately ran off leaving behind only the driver and the man who at the time was still alive but badly injured,” Ramotswa Police boss Keoagile Tau, said. When questioned, the South African admitted he had been beaten. He was immediately rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, he died the next day without providing further details.
Tau said repatriation processes have begun. He said they have managed to arrest nine of the wanted ten (10) suspects. “One is still at large while the rest of the men briefly appeared before the court this week and have been remanded in custody while investigations continue,” he said. Tau said they have not yet established why the foreigner ended up being beaten to near death. However, allegations suggest that the scuffle was over alcohol. Those close to the matter say the man was supposed to deliver alcohol to Batswana that day but the product he came bearing was way less than what the local men expected.
“The men from Botswana had paid about P18 000 to the South Africans who were to hand over the booze over the fallen border fence in Ramotswa, but the South Africans brought alcohol way below that value,” a source close to the matter intimated. A fight then ensued, with one of the men from across the border being badly injured. Common talk in the village regarding the matter is that some police officers might be implicated in the matter, and they may have even gone through questioning - something Tau said he was unaware of, safe to say they were investigating the matter.
Village talk is that some of the police officers are in full knowledge of those who continue to smuggle liquor into the country. In fact, people are pointing fingers at the said officers, saying they too quench their thirst through the black market.
“I do not know anything of that sort, if anyone has information which they believe can help us resolve this case we appeal to them to come forward. I know nothing about police officers being implicated in this incident,” Tau said.