Police waiting to pounce on Kgafela

TSHIRELETSO MOTLOGELWA
Staff Writer | Wednesday June 2, 2010 00:00

Mbulawa revealed that the arrest warrant for the two most senior members of the Bakgatla royal family would be put to use as soon as they are found within the borders of Botswana. The two men are said to be in South Africa.

The Kgafela brothers are wanted by police after Magistrate Lot Moroka issued warrants of arrests for them following their failure to attend the first court session on Monday morning to face charges relating to the alleged flogging of people in Mochudi.

They are charged alongside 13 others. Following frantic efforts to have the arrest suspended Moroka agreed with the group's lawyer Sydney Pilane on Monday afternoon that the suspects be granted temporary freedom pending a hearing yesterday where they would explain why they did not attend the court session.

However while the other suspects came before Moroka, the two royals failed to attend.

Moroka then ruled that the two men be arrested and brought before him at the earliest sighting.

Mbulawa however dismissed allegations that Botswana Police would work with Interpol to locate the men in South Africa and have them brought back to Botswana.

'We have no reason to engage Interpol. We will wait for them to arrive here upon which we will then arrest them,' explained Mbulawa.

Kgafela, Mmusi and Linchwe are accused alongside Bogopa Lenchwe (36), Christopher Oni Tshige (39), Mmolotsi Ntswetswe (34), Baboloki Richard Pilane (32), Bathusi Ralefala (33), James Mollowakgotla (42), Kabelo Lentswe (26), Modisagae Matshome (30), Kabelo Mooketsi (32), Kgamanyane Radikolo (41), Nthithane Segwati (51) and Thipe Segwati (51).

They are all represented by Advocate Pilane assisted by Sadique Kebonang while the state is represented by senior state counsel Kgosietsile Ngakaagae and Samantha Mbikiwa.