Mineworkers growing target for criminals

LETLHAKANE: A majority of the syndicates in the Letlhakane area, particularly in Phase 1, have come to be known to the police as individuals who moved from Francistown and Selebi-Phikwe in search of greener pastures.

Letlhakane Police Station commander, Superintendent Michael Maphephu revealed this when addressing residents here recently that Letlhakane mineworkers are a growing target for criminals. He cited the rising crime in the Phase 1 location, particularly robbery, murder and rape.

He added that most of the culprits, who attacked Phase 1 residents, have proven to have migrated from Francistown and Selebi-Phikwe as a result of the shutdown of mines in the areas.

“This came to light during interviews conducted after the same culprits were arrested for different crimes,” Maphephu said.

He added that the offenders had admitted in the interviews that they were aware of the mineworkers’ patterns.

He also said they confessed that they came to Letlhakane specifically to target mineworkers, especially women, for accommodation and other purposes. “They stay with women and easily plot against them and even commit crime in the same location,” added Maphephu. He also said they have registered a significant number of murder cases in Phase 1 committed by the same culprits. The station head stated that, in some instances, residents would be aware of a crime before it is committed. He used an example of a victim who had told her employer that her partner was going to kill her, but the employer did nothing about it.

Maphephu went on to say that the victim also told a taxi driver that she was going to be killed. However, the driver didn’t heed the alarm and chose to drive her home rather than assume responsibility for her safety and protection.

“It was reported that she was killed by her partner after being dropped off at home,” the police boss said. Meanwhile, Maphephu stated the police are bothered by illegal traditional beer brewing that occurs frequently in Phase 1. He stated that when police respond to the crime, the same offenders frequently stone police cars.

“This came to light during interviews conducted after the same culprits were arrested for different crimes,”