Police deport South African 'medics'

PATRICIA MAGANU
Staff Writer | Wednesday June 24, 2009 00:00

He said that the police arrested the group on June 19 and launched investigations. 'They said they belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa and they were travelling around to help people,' he said. They told the police that they identified Khwai Settlement and decided to go there and provide services.

The group gave residents necessities like blankets and drugs that were not cleared at the border or declared with customs. 'We realised that they did not follow proper procedures to come and offer these services in the country,' he said.

Apparently the suspects, who have been sent back home to South Africa, came to Botswana as tourists and proceeded to Khwai.

'They did not make proper arrangements so we had to arrest them and investigate their operations,' he said. Maleka said that some of the suspects said that they were pharmacists and nurses but they had no proof.

He stated that these people had been in the country for about a week when they were arrested. 'They crossed into Botswana on June 13 at Martins Drift Border Post,' he stated.

The South Africans were sent home after paying fines. 'The police fined them P5,000 for importing goods (drugs and medicines) without permits and the department of customs fined them P2,000 for dispensing without permit and failure to declare,' he said. He stated that the drugs they confiscated will be sent to the District Health Team (DHT).