Do not misuse 999 - Police

Botswana Police have warned the public to desist from using the toll free police emergency number 999 and any other emergency numbers, for false purposes.

This was announced after a certain Keneilwe Galeakanngwe of Zoroga village in the Central District allegedly recently called 999, claiming that his life was in danger. He told Botswana Police that his life was in danger and that he was stuck on a tree after being attacked by lions in Kacgae cattle-post in the Gantsi District.

Following the supposed incident, the police and wildlife officers were immediately dispatched to the area to rescue the accused. However, police investigations later revealed that the report was false and that the accused never had an encounter with the lions as he claimed. Police investigations further indicated that the call was in fact made from Zazana cattle-post near Zoroga village in the Central District, not in Kacgae like the called had noted.

The 20-year-old Galeakanngwe, was as a result convicted for giving false information to the police and given a punishment of being lashed five strokes by the Gweta Customary Court. The Public Relations Officer at Botswana Police Service, Witness Bosija said that such issues have been a concern to them and they plead with the public to refrain from such acts because anyone caught doing such will receive the relevant punishment.

“Any emergency number is meant only for emergency situations, and actions will be taken against individuals who call with false intentions,” said Bosija. He lamented that rushing to address such non-existent cases costs them time and precious resources which could have been utilised on more deserving people that could miss on such critical service due to a false report.

Bosija said that it is not only the police emergency number that is being interrupted by such calls; that staff working at the emergency lines of the Fire and Ambulance services have also complained about calls that are irrelevant to their services. Bosija emphasizes that anyone convicted with such a crime will be sentenced for corporal punishment or imprisonment for less than three years.