We are now concerned – Motube
It’s been almost five months since the remains of a 71-year-old granny of Kanye village, Baitshepi Phirinyane, who went missing, were found. Up to now, Phirinyane has not been laid to rest because of a dispute between police and the family on whether the bones that were found were indeed of the old woman.
Phirinyane of Mmangwato Ward was last seen at Kanye Salvation House Church on the 14th of August, 2022. After a month of searching, a few bones were found in the bush at Lesetlheng cattlepost 10km from Lotlhakane West, next to the clothes belonging to the deceased.
However, the family allegedly rejected the police DNA findings on the 14th of October, arguing rather that the remains were of a baboon and not their granny.
The family asked to engage a private pathologist and were allowed to do so. The results from an independent pathologist from Ampatha DNA Private clinic in South Africa, however, revealed that the bones belonged to Phirinyane after all.
Speaking to The Voice, Botswana Police Spokesperson, Assistant Police Commissioner Dipheko Motube, confirmed that they received a report from Phirinyane family confirming the police forensic findings on the 23rd of December, 2022.
“The family were not convinced of the police forensic results and we allowed them to engage an independent pathologist. The results support and confirm Botswana Police Forensics Science Services Laboratory earlier findings which the Phirinyane family had disputed. The investigations are complete. We advised the family to go to Kanye Police Station where the case was reported to meet the Investigating Officer to facilitate collection of the remains for burial. We are now concerned because it’s been weeks and we haven’t heard from them,” said Motube.
Reached for comment, a family spokesperson refused to speak to the media.
