Police shoot and kill 10 robbers in a daring cash-in-transit heist in the capital city, Gaborone

24 February 2022

Botswana Police Commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe has vowed to meet the force of criminals with equal foerce

Share this story

The Pan Afrikanist Watchman

Ten men were killed in the morning of Wednesday 23rd February 2022 in Gaborone’s Phase 2 suburb following a Hollywood-like cops and robbers shootout that held the neighbourhood in tenterhooks for a spell of time.

The gunfire exchange at a house rented by a 21-year-old female and allegedly used as a safe house pitted the combined members of the Botswana Police and the Directorate on Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) against the daring 11 robbers.

When the gunfire died down the fatality count was eight and then it went up to nine, with the tenth robber only eliminated in the evening of the same day.

A statement from the Botswana police would later attribute the gunfire exchange to an earlier incident at the Main Mall in Gaborone, where an unescorted Security Systems cash-in-transit vehicle was attacked and the sum of P986 000, 00  stolen.

The police immediately pursued the robbers only to corner them at Phase 2 safe house. The robbers were identified as men of Botswana and South African origin between 20 and 35 years.

Four pistols and an AK-47 Assault Rifle were found in the robbers’ possession whilst a 30-year-old woman who was in their company has been arrested.

The gruesome ‘massacre’ is certainly a statement of intent from the Botswana police, whose boss, Police Commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe had earlier sent a chilling warning to parents of would-be robbers to tame their children, lest they get hurt.

Makgophe made it pretty clear that he has lost servicemen in some of the violent crimes and was no longer prepared to lose any, reminding further that he has sworn to defend and ensure the safety of all Batswana and citizens.

The police boss was himself mimicking a threat issued by Justice, Defense, and Security Minister Kagiso Mmusi during the 48th Senior Officers conference, at which he had appealed to members of the security forces to do everything possible to eliminate crime in the country.

Mmusi’s utterances were inspired by a spate of smash and grab incidents by petty thieves and criminals who pounce on unsuspecting motorists at notorious street intersections as well as the uneasy security environment in the country with countless incidents of housebreakings, robberies, and runaway crimes of passion

.

In fact, so out of control had the crime gone that even Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. Edwin Dikoloti was recently attacked in his car at the Ext. 27 traffic lights along the Nelson Mandela Road and lost his cellphone.

The spate of cash-in-transit heists erupted last year following the relaxation of the Covid-19 health protocols prompting the government to take the controversial decision to provide armed security escorts for cash-in-transit vehicles!

There is a real fear that the violent crimes are planned and executed by a cross-border syndicate of South Africans, Batswana, and Zimbabweans.

In South Africa in the same week, a gang of 25 men on a mission to rob a cash-in-transit vehicle was intercepted by police intelligence in Rosetenville culminating in a shootout in which eight of the robbers were killed, among which was a Motswana citizen and eight arrested.

The robbers were nationals of South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Minister responsible for Police Bheki Cele also vowed to deal with criminals and to ensure peace and safety for the people of South Africa.

Last Posts

Leader of Opposition Hon. Dumelang Saleshando whose Botswana Congress Party (BCP) boasts 15 MPs in the 13th Parliament

 A Response to the State of the Nation Address

Share this story

Share this storyBy Hon Dumelang Saleshando Leader of Opposition 21 November 2024 Title: We have crossed the Rubicon: Now what awaits us? A new or old Botswana Mr. Speaker, your Honour the Vice President and…

24 February 2022

State of the Nation Address to the First Meeting of the First Session of the 13th Parliament

Share this story

Share this storyBy Advocate Duma Gideon Boko President of the Republic of Botswana 19th November 2024 Theme: Transforming Botswana for inclusive growth May their souls rest in peace and in their memory, let us forge…

24 February 2022

HB invests 137 Million Pula in Botswana, fuelling the nation’s rise as a diamond powerhouse

Share this story

Share this storyEighteen (18) months after launch, HB is advancing HB Botswana’s processing capacity with a transformative new 137 million Pula investment. This commitment will expand HB’s processing capacity and create hundreds of high-quality jobs,…

24 February 2022

Elephant over-population causes massive destruction of trees, poor food and water supply for all the wildlife_

U.S. Appeals Court’s decision on ivory, Rhino horn sales may signal reopening of international trade

Share this story

Share this story By Emmanuel Koro  Johannesburg,  19 November 2024 In a significant development for a return to a reasonable approach to trade in ivory and rhino horn products,  the U.S. Second Court of Appeals has…

24 February 2022

India in top 10 globally for patents, trademarks and industrial designs

Share this story

Share this storyIndia now ranks among the top 10 countries globally in the number of patents, trademarks and industrial design applications, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) 2024 report on IP trends. The…

24 February 2022

Irina Abramova (Moderator), Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug (Mauritania FM), Sergey Lavrov (Russia FM) and Dr Monque Nsanzabanganwa (African Union Commission) - Pic (TPA)

Russia has never been involved in the exploitation of African peoples – Sergey Lavrov

Share this story

Share this storyThe Pan Afrikanist Watchman At the close of the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum on November 10th 2024 in the Sirius Federal Territory, Sochi, Russia’s veteran Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov…

24 February 2022

Related Stories