*Missing man’s body parts recovered from drain
*Allegedly killed and cut up over stock theft proceeds
The four-month search for a father-of-two came to a sad, shitty end recently when his decomposed body parts were exhumed from the bottom of a toilet’s drainage system at a cattlepost deep in the Kweneng District.
Mmankgodi native, James Gaebine, 41, vanished around 26 April, shortly after leaving his home in Mogoditshane to borrow his cousin’s car.
After two days of silence, his concerned brother, Tlhokomelang Gaebine, 51, contacted Broadhurst Police Station to report him missing.
He was right to be worried.
It is suspected James was murdered by Collen Khumalo Washington Ncube, 28, after the two men, believed to be stealing stock together, quarrelled over the proceeds. It seems the Zimbabwean then cut-up the dead man into pieces and dumped his remains down a drain at Rangolonyane lands near Botlhapatlou village.
Although Ncube was arrested in early May and jailed for five years having pleaded guilty to stock theft, he was not linked to James’ disappearance until months later.
Confirming this, District Criminal Investigation Department Officer, Detective Superintendent, Andrew Koitsiwe told The Voice, “The police received a report of a missing person, during his search a certain man was arrested on suspicions of stolen stock. The man had pleaded guilty for the stock theft case and sentenced to five years imprisonment. It was later discovered that the car he used belonged to the missing man. The suspect led the police to Rangolonyane lands where the deceased was retrieved.”
Sources in the area hinted that both the suspect and deceased were stealing stock together and selling to market places in Gaborone.
It is alleged the duo fell-out when James repeatedly failed to give Ncube his share of the spoils from the sold meat.
In an exclusive interview, the slain man’s grieving brother, Tlhokomelang revealed his sibling used to rent a butchery at Middle Star Mall in Gaborone but later ceased operating the business.
“I don’t know what he was currently doing, I heard him saying he was looking for a job. I had never seen him with the suspect, I saw the suspect for the first time after the crime. When I tried to look at him, he bowed his head, avoiding eye contact,” narrated the upset older Gaebine.
Casting his mind back to the last time he saw his brother alive, Tlhokomelang said James left home in Ledumadumane ward to fetch a car from his cousin, Otsile Kegakile.
“He told me he was going to Kumakwane but it seems he went to Botlhapatlou instead. I can’t remember the exact date, about four days later the cousin called demanding his car but the call was answered by a Zimbabwean man claiming James left the phone charging going to wash the car. Later when he tried to call, the phone was switched off,” explained Tlhokomelang, adding at this point they reported him missing.
Keagile later received a call from the police, informing him they had arrested a man in possession of his car loaded with meat; on questioning, Ncube reportedly told the cops he bought the car from James.
Pausing briefly to compose himself, Tlhokomelang says weeks turned to months until he finally received the call he was dreading; the police had found his brother’s corpse.
The next day, he went with the cops to confirm their grisly discovery.
“He was already decomposed; it was just pieces in a drain containing some water. I could only identify him by a trouser that I knew. We laid him to rest on Thursday. He left behind his children, a boy and girl,” concluded Tlhokomelang with a sad sigh.
Already locked up in Gaborone Prison, after a nine-day delay due to lack of transport, Ncube was hauled before Molepolole Magistrates Court on 28 August and charged with murder.
Remanded in custody, the convicted thief is due back in court on 23 September.
