Disappearances During Phane Harvest

ONALENNA MODIKWA
Staff Writer | Monday April 12, 2010 00:00

Police Station Commander, Superintendent Robson Maleka said people tend to concentrate more on harvesting worms from trees and pay little attention to their whereabouts, hence they get lost. He urged phane harvesters to be cautious, as it is very dangerous to get lost during this rainy and cold weather. Maleka confirmed that an 18-year-old boy disappeared last Saturday while harvesting phane in the company of his grandmother and a group of other harvesters. Upon realising that the boy was missing the team members made a report to the police who assisted in conducting the search. The boy was discovered the following day along Tobane road.

In a separate incident the police and phane harvesters are looking for a 40-year-old woman who also disappeared last Tuesday while harvesting phane. The woman who also resides in Botshabelo originates from Tonota. Maleka said police also had to help some phane harvesters yesterday morning after they got lost as a group. The harvesters, from Borolong village near Francistown had camped near Selebi-Phikwe to harvest phane.  The Station Commander said the group consists of young children, ladies and old women. He said police led the group back to their campsite after they gave a description of where they had camped. They had left their belongings at the camp. Meanwhile, Maleka has expressed concern over the rising stock theft cases in which thieves use unregistered brands.

He noted that it is difficult for them to control this crime because victims of stock theft tend to negotiate with thieves for compensation and to drop charges.

'The painful thing is that we only learn of this in court after we have prepared thoroughly for the case to continue and have perpetrators brought to book. We therefore appeal to our politicians and those in positions of authority to help address the people about this.