Botswana�s most wanted shot dead in SA

Pini Bothoko | Thursday December 21, 2017 14:22

Chirunga was reportedly out on bail for unspecified charges in SA.

Mmegi has learnt that Chirunga’s corpse was yesterday transported from SA to Francistown’s Area W location for burial.

Chirunga fled Botswana after committing a series of crimes and being suspected in others, including murder committed back in 2014 and 2015. Chirunga was accused of murdering University of Botswana academic, Richard Sehurutshe early last year.

Sehurutshe’s body was found dumped in Molepolole with his car missing.

Chirunga was also wanted for allegedly obtaining an Omang and passport through dubious means. Botswana Police Service public relation officer, Dipheko Motube confirmed the fugitive’s death, but could not state exactly when the shooting occurred.

“Yes, it's true that Chirunga has been shot dead by South African police. He was a wanted person in Botswana for three cases of motor vehicle theft at Francistown and a case of murder in Gaborone.

“He had fled the country after committing those crimes back in 2014 and 2015. One of his cases of motor vehicle theft was before Francistown Magistrates' Court,” Motube said.

Motube stated that since Botswana and South Africa do not have an agreement on the extradition of murder accused persons, South African police had not extradited Chirunga back to Botswana.

Last year in June, the South African government restated its position that it would not extradite any suspects to Botswana who may face the death penalty.

In terms of the Amended Treaty on Extradition, SA will seek written assurance from Botswana that a person accused of murder will not face the death penalty or execution if extradited.

Chirunga fled the country after allegedly stealing a car in Mochudi and was later arrested by SA police. At the time, it was reported that after stealing the vehicle, Chirunga then used an illegal point of entry to take the car into South Africa.

He was alleged to have cut the border fence to gain entry into SA, but was spotted by SA police who arrested him.

He would later undergo prosecution in that country, which granted him bail rather than extradite him to Botswana where he was facing the murder charge.