W2RC Champion Ross Branch’s 2025 Dakar Rally journey has come to an unfortunate end following a crash during Stage 6 of the grueling race. Branch went down at the 48-kilometer mark and was airlifted for medical attention. In an exclusive interview with Voice Sport, Branch’s wife, Aimée Branch, provided an update on his condition, expressing relief over the results of his scans. “CT scans came back all clear. A huge relief but will have some follow-up ones done when he gets home to confirm,” she said. While acknowledging the physical toll of the crash, Aimée reassured supporters that Ross is on the road to recovery. “Body a bit beat up and slight concussion but already back with us and remembers crashing and seeing Nacho’s dust up ahead and that he was setting a good pace,” she shared. Aimée says the focus is now on Ross’s recovery. “We’ll wait for Ross...

Sunday Standard Botswana’s energy sector inches closer to self-reliance amid generation surge Botswana’s energy narrative is shifting, as local electricity generation marked an 11.1 percent year-on-year increase in the third quarter of 2024. The Index of Electricity Generation (IEG) rose to 235.1, underscoring steady progress in reducing reliance on imports. Quarter-on-quarter growth was even more pronounced, with a 23.6 percent surge driven by improved performance at the flagship Morupule A and B power stations, which collectively contributed 98.1 percent of total output. .ihc-locker-wrap{} There’s more to this story But to keep reading, we need you to subscribe. Investigative journalism is an indispensable part of a healthy society, but it’s also expensive to produce. We are reliant on subscriptions to fund our work, and while you can enjoy most of our stories for free, a small number of premium features are reserved for subscribers. You can subscribe for one week, a...

Dikhwaere preparations ended tragically at Goodhope on Thursday morning when a man killed his lover before hanging himself. Both the deceased are from Tsoaneng village “The 25-year-old woman was in the company of others preparing the yard to host dikhwaere when his boyfriend aged 26 arrived and stabbed her to death in full view of her grandmother and others who were making preparations. Before the tragic incident happened, the woman upon seeing her boyfriend ran inside the yard and her lover followed her. She stood behind her grandmother and then he demanded to see her and as she refused he pounced on her stabbing her several times,” said Goodhope Assistant Superintendent Kenneth Edward. The police boss also indicated that the man also stabbed another man who tried to intervene when he was killing his wife. He also mentioned that after killing his lover, the man fled the scene and hanged...

Sunday Standard Botswana carries fiscal challenges into 2025 with ‘reforms’ Botswana is preparing for a challenging fiscal year in 2025/2026, according to the Budget Strategy Paper 2025 prepared by the Ministry of Finance. The document outlines a projected Total Revenues and Grants of P85.4 billion against an expenditure of P96.7 billion, leaving a budget deficit of P11.3 billion, equivalent to 3.6 percent of GDP. .ihc-locker-wrap{} There’s more to this story But to keep reading, we need you to subscribe. Investigative journalism is an indispensable part of a healthy society, but it’s also expensive to produce. We are reliant on subscriptions to fund our work, and while you can enjoy most of our stories for free, a small number of premium features are reserved for subscribers. You can subscribe for one week, a month or a full year – the choice is yours. Save 77% on an annual subscription. Click here...

Police have arrested a 20- year-old man for the murder of his 19- year-old girlfriend that occured early this morning at Legonono ward in Letlhakeng. Letlhakeng police Assistant Superintendent Lekopanye Molwantwa said the incident occurred around 0100 hrs and was reported later around 0300 hrs. ” According to the information we have, the duo were from entertainment and they delayed to go home. They were only two walking home when the boy allegedly committed the crime, stabbing his girlfriend with a sharp instrument,” explained ASP Molwantwa. The suspect is said to have accused his lover of cheating on him and ended her life using a knife. After he committed the gruesome incident, the young man went to inform his friend who then phoned the suspect’s father and  informed him of the shattering news. The suspect later went home where his relatives apprehended him and phoned the police who took him...

Sunday Standard Botswana witnesses surge in digital scams The Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) has raised an alarm over a sharp rise in digital scams targeting vulnerable individuals across Botswana. In its latest report, the agency outlined sophisticated methods used by fraudsters to exploit unsuspecting citizens, urging the public to remain vigilant. According to the FIA, scammers are primarily using social media platforms to lure victims with offers of US Dollar-denominated loans. Victims are enticed to submit sensitive personal information, including Omang numbers, copies of identification documents, employment details, and proof of residence. .ihc-locker-wrap{} There’s more to this story But to keep reading, we need you to subscribe. Investigative journalism is an indispensable part of a healthy society, but it’s also expensive to produce. We are reliant on subscriptions to fund our work, and while you can enjoy most of our stories for free, a small number of premium features are...

The newly elected Gaborone City Mayor, Oarabile Motlaleng, has announced plans to request permission from the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, to assemble his own team. Motlaleng expressed concerns over the competence and commitment of some existing staff during a meet-and-greet session with the media at Cresta President Hotel on Thursday morning. “I’m going to request Hon. Motshegwa to give the go-ahead for me to select my own team, people I trust and who share the same vision for our city’s prosperity,” said Motlaleng. “Some of the people I currently work with don’t align with my vision, and I want to bring in individuals who are hungry to see Gaborone thrive.” When questioned about potential accusations of nepotism, the mayor clarified that the move is not about hiring friends or family but introducing fresh talent to the city council. “No one is going to lose their...

Sunday Standard Unemployment & corruption were deciding factors in 2024 election: Mo Ibrahim Youth unemployment and perceptions of corruption and government unaccountability have emerged as key factors influencing the outcome of Botswana’s 2024 general election, according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. The election marked a historic breakaway from decades of dominance by the ruling party, signaling a major shift in the country’s political landscape. .ihc-locker-wrap{} There’s more to this story But to keep reading, we need you to subscribe. Investigative journalism is an indispensable part of a healthy society, but it’s also expensive to produce. We are reliant on subscriptions to fund our work, and while you can enjoy most of our stories for free, a small number of premium features are reserved for subscribers. You can subscribe for one week, a month or a full year – the choice is yours. Save 77% on an annual subscription. Click here...

Police have confirmed the deaths of three people, including a child who succumbed to severe burns following a tragic arson incident at Makaleng village early on Wednesday morning. The tragic incident  which claimed the lives of two women aged 31, 28, and a 4-year-old boy followed a heated dispute between a 40-year-old man from Tutume village and his 31-year-old girlfriend. The argument escalated to a dreadful climax when the man, in a fit of rage, doused the house in petrol and ignited it. As the fire engulfed the house, the cries of the 4-year-old child pierced the night, waking the two women from their sleep. Relatives who responded to the screams for help managed to break open the front window, pouring buckets of water and pulled to safety the occupants who were severely burnt. The victims were all rushed to Nyangabwe Referral Hospital and, sadly the child’s life was cut...

Tonota residents were left reeling in shock on Friday night after a 10-year-old girl living with disability was killed- apparently by her mother’s boyfriend, at Manyanda ward. Confirming the incident, Assistant Superintendent Abel Mathape of Tonota  police said they are still on the hunt for the boyfriend to the girl’s mother  who is their prime suspect. The distresing news of the girl’s murder has since gone viral on social media, sparking outrage among members of the public who are baying for the blodd of the suspected killer, Modisaotsile Peter, who was the last person seen with the young girl. The incident occurred after the girl’s mother went out to have fun with her friends, leaving the child with her boyfriend. “We received the report at night and we acted swiftly. We attended to the scene and the man who was left with the deceased was nowhere to be found. “It...