Three men accused of murdering a Botswana businesswoman were to be handed over by South Africa at the Ramatlabana border post on Saturday — this after Botswana had agreed not to impose the death penalty on them should they be found guilty of killing Gloria Mahowe (37), said Interpol and crime intelligence spokesperson Senior Superintendent Tumi Golding.
Motswana Benson Kegane (35) and South Africans Amos Suna Moloi (25) and William Sedi (27) are accused of shooting Mohowe after she gave them a lift across the border near Gaborone in 2001. They allegedly then stole her jewellery, cellphone and clothing.
Kegane and Moloi were arrested in North West soon afterwards and sent to Botswana under the mistaken belief they were illegal immigrants.
It was soon realised they were wanted for the murder and that proper extradition procedures had not been followed, but it was not until the start of 2006 that they were repatriated to South Africa for the mistake to be rectified.
The same day they arrived back, police arrested Sedi, said Golding.
The Commonwealth Extradition Act stipulates that fugitive criminals not be surrendered to any country if their offence is punishable by death.
In 2001, South African Mariette Bosch (50) was hanged in Botswana for the murder of Ria Wolmarans, the first wife of her husband, Tienie Wolmarans.
However, in this instance Botswana had agreed to impose life sentences on the three should they be found guilty, said Golding.
She said South African representatives of Interpol, the police and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, among others, would be present when the three were handed over to their Batswana counterparts at 10am on Saturday. — Sapa