Sithole is lying - IO in Karema's case

Larona Makhaiza | Tuesday May 19, 2026 16:40

 

Sithole stands accused of brutally killing Tlotso Karema back in 2022 at Lobatse in a case that sparked public outcry wherein a riot erupted. Karema’s body was later found along the Kanye road after police received information through a tip off. Appearing before court today, Sithole through the defence attorney Keorapetse Sambere objected that a confession statement alluding that he had murdered the deceased was in fact, coerced to make an admission of the offence.

IO Gosibotsile had told the court yesterday that, Sithole admitted to the crimes back in 2022. He indicated that Sithole killed Karema using a needle he was given by a ‘sangoma’ and bathed with his blood before dumping the body in the outskirts of Kanye. In light of this, Sambere during cross-examination put it to IO that his client was forced into making an admission by the police as he was tortured repeatedly.

“I have been instructed that you ordered that Sithole be taken to another room where he was undressed and there was a female officer who told him that he has a small manhood it’s like he is not Zimbabwean,” Sambere told the court. Sambere further added that Sithole was not only stripped naked but he was tortured with three plastic bags. “He instructed me that other officers came with three plastic bags and they made him wear another one as a trouser and the second one as a shirt. He was then made to lie down while the third plastic was put on his head to suffocate him,” Sambere told the court.

Sambere elaborated that the alleged torture by the police did not stop there as he was assaulted repeatedly. “He says he was kicked by officers and this continued until lunchtime until shifts changed,” he told the court.

Moreover, Sambere alleged that his client made a second statement on August 30, 31st 2022 where he raised that he was tortured to make a confession statement at the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) offices at Sebele.

The defence pointed out this alleged torture and abuse took place at Kanye at Sejelo police station. Accorded the opportunity to respond to accusations levelled against him, IO Gosibotsile rebuffed all the claims. He emphasised that it is not the practice of Botswana Police Service to torture suspects.

Refuting the accused's claims, Gosibotsile said he has never been at Kanye together with Sithole. “He is lying I have never been at Kanye police or Sejelo with him and he was never there. I recorded that statement at Lobatse on July 5th, 2022 at 2210,” the IO said.

Gosibotsile went to brush off claims that Sithole was forced into making a confession, undressed and suffocated. 'Ï have never coerced Lovemore Sithole to tell the truth and I have never instructed that he be taken to another room. I have never witnessed any of those things and if one is treated this way they should report to senior officers even if you are a suspect and in investigations, we can’t torture or threaten anyone,” the IO said.

The IO added that he is not aware of any other statement that was made at the DIS offices as the accused alleged.

'I never took the accused from prison to the DIS offices at Sebele on August 30, 31st and I have never been inside the DIS offices. I just see them when I’m on a bus passing by,” the IO said. The case is set to continue tomorrow as the defence is objecting to admit the confession statement. The case continues.