San community seeks Commissioner’s intervention over “Police brutality”

Botswana Khweedom Council, an organization that advocates for Basarwa rights in the country has engaged Botswana Police Commissioner Dinah Marathe on what it deems as perpetual victimization and brutality from police officers.

This comes on the backdrop of a recent case where Baleki Kelentse, a middle aged man from the San community who lives in Dukwi village was allegedly beaten and injured by the police during investigations linking him to stock theft. According to a letter dated 17 August 2026 written to the Botswana Police Commissioner, Botswana Khweedom Council is demanding an independent, impartial and transparent investigation concerning the incident. The Council is also demanding the Police Commissioner to make findings on the circumstances that resulted in the injuries that were sustained by the victim.

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