What was supposed to be an insightful and enjoyable excursion to Botswana for the Forbes tour ended bitterly for South African based entrepreneur Bheki Kunene who was apparently detained and horrendously tortured by Broadhurst Police Officers recently.
The 34-year-old businessman claims that the Police brutality he suffered has left him with a fractured skull, retinal detachment and a damaged ear drum.
According to Kunene, he visited a BBS Liquor store that evening to purchase some late night snacks when his card declined. “I was manhandled and thrown out of the store as they said it was clear that I did not have any money.”
He told this publication that he proceeded to take a video of the assault and threatened to call the Police but the security officers beat him to it and instead filed an assault complaint against him.”
“At the Police station I asked for my right to call and then they started hitting me and torturing me. I was told that this is not South Africa. The cuffs were so tight they cut through my skin.”
Kunene further alleged that he was also denied his Bipolar medication and only received it when they feared that he might die. “I heard one cop suggesting that they give me my medication lest I die in the cell which would be an even bigger problem.”
He said Police have since deleted the evidence on his phone and have spun the narrative to say that he was detained for being a drunk nuisance. “If I was drunk, how was I able to direct them to my temporary accommodation in a foreign country to get my medication? He questioned.
The entrepreneur credits President Mokgweetsi Masisi for his liberation. “It seems that the President had come to do routine checks of the cells and he recognized me from the summit,’ Kunene said as he showed a picture moment he had shared with Masisi from the summit.
While it cannot be proven that Masisi did set him free, the BWGovernment Facebook page rubber stamped his claims that the President was at Broadhurst Police Station at the time to “appreciate their facilities.”
The charges have since been dropped but Kunene says Police later visited him in order to intimidate him, which led him to flee to South Africa in fear.
“I got my medical reports on Tuesday and the doctor says that I have a fractured skull, retinal detachment, subarachnoid haemorrhage and a damaged ear drum.”
He is intent on suing the Botswana Police for assault. “My medical bills are estimated at ZAR 29, 000 and I am due for surgery ,” he said
At press time, the Office Of the President had advised Kunene to stay put and wait for communication from the their officials.
Broadhurst Police Station Commander Obusitse Lokae advised this publication to reach out to Officer Commanding Bonnie Bareki for comment on the matter, however Baeki’s line rang unanswered.
