South African Lotto researcher, Ramerafe Nkele, appears to have left no stone unturned in his quest for asylum, away from hit men he believes are after his life for discoveries he made about how lottery is being run in South Africa.
He will not say exactly what he discovered about the operations of the Lotto, but he believes, contrary to what his assailants are willing to accept, that it could give the betting business a healthy facelift.
But this has only earned him fear for his life after his sister died from a gunshot that he believes was meant for him.
Nkele says he has reported his presence to the Botswana human rights centre, Ditshwanelo, who confirmed that indeed they had met him. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees refused to speak.
Without revealing details of Nkele’s plea, Ditshwanelo confirmed that they had given him a hearing.
Nkele’s web of fears and allegations enwrap the South African Police Services, whom he believes have been paid off by a powerful and rich international organisation based in Britain, to wipe him out.
According to Nkele, millions of Rand have been deposited with some SAPS officers to make it easy for him to be assassinated for his recent discovery of lottery numbers.
Speaking to Sunday Standard Nkele said: “My government has failed to protect me from the people who want to kill me and my family, therefore I m here in Botswana to seek protection from UNHCR and Ditshwanelo.”
He said the national intelligence agency and the Office of the President are fully aware of his assailants.
He threatened that if his problem is not solved, he is ready to spill the beans, causing the SAPS to lose face around the globe.
“I have been researching about lottery for a few years now,” he claims.
He said his life changed dramatically last year when he visited Britain and met with one of the top officials of the International Lottery Association, revealing to them what he had discovered.
On his return from Britain he soon learnt that he had been assigned a hit man.
“By luck, how do I know that the hired hit man missed me when they shot and killed my sister? The matter was reported to the Meadowlands Police Station in Soweto,” says Nkele. “My discovery is not at all a threat to the lottery, but if it is accepted, then it can boost it.”
He stressed that he has good information about the plot to assassinate him as well as some of the SAPS officers who have been bribed to cover up after the event.
Flora Kedibonye, a para-legal officer at the human rights centre commonly known as Ditshwanelo, says Ramerafe Nkele did seek assistance from them but “I can not divulge what kind of assistance he seeks from us as for now.”
Contacted for comment, the Protection Officer at the UNHCR, Madoda Nasha, said, “I am not aware of any South African who is seeking asylum in Botswana.”
Madoda said his office does not discuss confidential matters with the press.
The South African High Commission in Gaborone declined to comment but an insider revealed that the UNHCR informed the diplomatic mission and they are investigating the issue.
A spokesperson of the Independent Complaints Directorate in Pretoria, South Africa, Grace Langa, said that Ramerafe Nkele had not reported to her office but they do have a complaint from Priscilla Nkele, a close relative of Ramerafe’s. The case is still under investigation, she said.
Provincial police commissioner, Norman Taioe, said Friday afternoon that he is not aware of the accusations Nkele levelled against the Meadowlands police station.
