RENT RISKS

Gabane Police Post Commander, Inspector Molaodi Matema, has expressed concern over the growing trend in which landlords rent out their houses without verifying tenants’ identities.He says many property owners only care about collecting rental payments, neglecting crucial security measures.The situation becomes particularly dangerous when landlords offer accommodation to foreigners without confirming whether they are in the country legally.“Anything can happen, and when trouble starts, the landlord has no information to assist the police. Even in cases where a tenant fails to pay rent, the owner often has no idea who they are dealing with or how to report them,” he said.Inspector Matema added that the problem becomes even worse when a tenant dies inside the house under unclear circumstances.“In such cases, the police are left with a mammoth task of trying to establish the person’s identity, even when the death occurred in circumstances that ordinarily would not require police intervention,”he explained.He urged landlords to formalise rental agreements, keep copies of identity documents, and monitor any suspicious behaviour to ensure the safety of their homes and the community.Inspector Matema shared that his officers are still traumatised and on leave following a gruesome incident last month in which a 19-month-old baby’s brains were found splattered on the ground, allegedly killed by a man believed to be his father.The officers have not yet returned to duty because they are struggling to cope emotionally.“They keep replaying the scene of finding a mother and her baby with their brains scattered all over the house. It is something no human being can easily forget,” he said.The suspect, Excellent Mutayiki (29), a Zimbabwean national, allegedly murdered both the mother and child after becoming suspicious that the baby might not be his.Mutayiki is said to have used a hammer to repeatedly strike the two. They both died, and the matter is currently before the Broadhurst Magistrate Court.Meanwhile, with the Christmas holidays fast approaching, Inspector Matema further advised Batswana to exercise extreme caution, noting that crime statistics typically spike during the festive season due to heightened excitement and movement.

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