Trial dates set in BDF arson case

Narrow escape: Soldiers' housing in Rakhuna. Similar buildings were set on fire in Francistown last year
Narrow escape: Soldiers' housing in Rakhuna. Similar buildings were set on fire in Francistown last year

FRANCISTOWN: Trial dates have been set in a case in which 30-year-old Bonno Ikanyeng allegedly went berserk and torched a 25-roomed barrack at Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Area S Camp housing 100 soldiers last January.

Ikanyeng, who is a Guidance and Counselling teacher, will be tried on June 29, 30 and July 14, 15 and 16.

On Monday, defence counsel, Kabelo Gaonyadiwe, applied for the matter to be dismissed, saying the prosecutor, Mompoloki Gaboiphiwe was absent without any explanation. When the stand-in prosecutor, Ogolotse Tampa explained that Gaboiphiwe would only be back in two weeks due to a training course, Gaonyadiwe applied for dismissal of the case arguing that “the State is not serious about prosecuting my client within a reasonable time”.

Editor's Comment
BDP primaries leave a lot to be desired

The BDP as a party known to have ample resources has always held its primaries well in time, but this time around that was not the case. The first leg of the primaries was held last weekend, with the final leg being billed for the coming weekend. This time around, the BDP failed to shine in its primary elections. The elections were chaotic; most if not all polling stations didn't open at the specified time of 6am. Loyal BDP members braved the...

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