News

Deputy DIS chief quits

Isaac Kgosi
 
Isaac Kgosi

Intelligence sources say Kgotlhane was part of a five-member presidential task force commissioned to establish the DIS in March 2008.

Three of the task force members were from the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), while the other two, who include Kgotlhane, were from the police’s Special Branch. Kgosi was reportedly part of the task force.

“However, there were always professional differences between the two men,” intelligence insider told Mmegi yesterday.

“Kgosi previously made some moves to push him out, but these failed due largely to the depth of information between the two of them,” said the source. “It is unclear how Kgotlhane has left this time though.”

Other sources said the ongoing case involving the disappearance of spy equipment at the BDF had spilt over into the intelligence agency, with the top directors taking opposing sides.

President Ian Khama appointed Kgotlhane deputy intelligence and security director on April 9, 2008, eight days after taking office as president. 

Publicly Kgotlhane has largely remained in the shadow of his superior, Kgosi, rarely surfacing into the limelight.

His departure comes after Kgosi told members of the Public Accounts Committee that his agency was operating smoothly.

Attempts to get confirmation from both Kgosi and Kgotlhane failed.