Gaborone - Two South African men charged with impersonating SA Police Service officials have been granted conditional bail by a Botswana court, the Mmegi newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Francistown Principal Magistrate Dumisani Basupi granted Donald Nyoni, 38, and Solomon Zitha, 37, both from Johannesburg, bail on condition that they each pay Pula 3000, and produce two sureties who would each pay P1000.
The two have to surrender their travel documents and report to the police once a month. The court ordered them not to interfere with police investigations or witness.
Botswana police Inspector Semakaleng Mazibane said investigations were continuing.
Nyoni said the court should grant him bail as his children would suffer.
“I am a family man with kids who are going to school. My kids are suffering since there is no one who is looking after them.
“I am sorry for what happened. I also do not think the investigations officer will find any information relating to the charges I am facing,” he said.
Zitha said he was looking after his hospitalised mother.
The State alleges the two “arrested” one Menje Phiri on February 11, 2015 in Francistown, north-east Botswana.
In court, Nyoni said they had been following a Tanzanian man who had used his sister as a drug mule. Nyoni said his sister died after swallowing drugs. He claimed they took Phiri to a police station for questioning.
On arrival at the police station, he and Zitha were arrested and charged with impersonating police. Zitha said he was merely accompanying his friend.
The case continues on March 30.
Sapa