- – Police rule out foul play in the recent Thamalakane River drownings, treating the cases as tragic accidents.
- – Incidents heightened social media suspicions of foul play
- – the deceased include a 28-year-old man from Sedie Ward and a 54-year-old woman from Boseja Ward, both of whom had gone missing.
- – Authorities advise families to closely monitor relatives with
Following the recent recovery of two bodies from the Thamalakane River of individuals who were initially reported missing, prompting suspicions that they may have been murdered and dumped in the water, Maun police have ruled out any foul play in both cases, classifying them as drownings.
The first incident involved a 54-year-old woman from Boseja ward in Maun, Gabothophiwe Phane, whose body was retrieved from the Thamalakane River on June 15, 2026. The second incident involves a 34-year-old man from Sedie ward in Maun, Kgakgamatso Mosime, whose body was recovered from the same river on June 26, 2026.
Phane was reported missing on June 9, 2026, while Mosime was last seen on June 21, 2026. The duo was identified by family members who confirmed their identities, and both have since been laid to rest.
Following these tragic incidents, some members of the community began raising allegations that the duo could have been killed for ritual purposes and dumped in the river to eliminate evidence. Some even took to social media platforms, claiming that the deceased were discovered with some of their body parts missing.
Maun Police Acting Station Commander, Assistant Superintendent Moutlwatsi Ikobeng, has dismissed allegations of foul play in both incidents, citing that post-mortem examinations confirmed no physical trauma, external injuries, or suspicious circumstances occurred.
Ikobeng also confirmed that both individuals were mentally challenged, stating that such patients face a significantly higher risk of drowning. He urged those living with mentally challenged family members to ensure they are well supervised for their own safety.
Ikobeng encouraged members of the community to refrain from circulating unconfirmed information, as misinformation on social media causes unnecessary public panic. He instead urged members of the public to reach out directly to the police if they have suspicions about ritual murders backed by actual evidence.
According to Ikobeng, five separate incidents of drowning have been recorded in Maun since the beginning of this year.
Ikobeng stated that drowning incidents in the Thamalakane River are primarily driven by various factors, including a lack of supervision and education, swimming in hazardous areas, a lack of safety gear, unsafe vessels, and alcohol consumption.
He explained that many incidents occur due to ignorance of safety regulations, urging the public to follow safety precautions such as wearing life jackets. Ikobeng also encouraged people to desist from entering the river while under the influence of alcohol and urged parents to supervise their children frequently, citing that children drown due to lapses in parental supervision.
