07 Mar 2013

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security has told Parliament that government was equally concerned about what has been perceived as easily obtainable bail for criminals.

Mr Dikgakgamatso Seretse said this in response to comments made by Members of Parliament who unanimously expressed concern about the issue while debating the Administration of Justice budget proposals for the 2013/14 financial year.

To that effect, Mr Seretse said the ministry would convene a meeting of all stakeholders in Palapye on March 22 to understand circumstances and factors leading to granting of bail, which he said currently remained the prerogative of the courts.

He explained that the judiciary, legislature and the executive should not be seen to be interfering on the matter.

Earlier in the debate, Gaborone West South MP, Mr Botsalo Ntuane said it was offensive for the grieving members of the public to see murder suspects roaming the streets, adding communities were angry hence the need to safely keep criminals in custody.

Mr Ntuane also argued that in some countries, there were different levels for criminals to qualify for bail. “But I am happy that the minister is planning a review and I wish we could act haste on the subject,” he said.

“We know that there may be pressures from various groups and possibly other countries but I think death penalty just serves a purpose because putting a murderer to death actually frightens others who may be contemplating a similar deed,” he said.

On road carnage, the MP was also concerned about the high rates of road accidents, most of which he said occasioned serious injury and death.

As a result, he said stiff penalties must be instituted on those that caused death under reckless driving hence the need to review the road traffic law. 

“There is need to review this with a view to ensure that we meet out very stiff penalties for those causing death by reckless driving depending on the circumstances,” he said.

Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, also MP for Moshupa, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi was also concerned about granting of bail to criminals.

Mr Masisi said his area was concentrated with suspects who have been granted bail for serious offences such as rape and murder.

Thus, he said while all shared the same view as politicians, they needed to speak in one voice and be heard so that the responsible minister could act swiftly on the matter.

Mr Masisi was also worried about stock theft which he said was rampant in his area.

As such, he commended the minister for three more stock theft courts set up in Jwaneng, Palapye and Selebi-Phikwe which he said should further improve disposal rates of stock theft cases around the country.

 He was also concerned about security of judicial officers which he said the minister must address without delay. He also implored politicians to respect the judiciary.

Minister of Education and Skills Development, also Serowe South MP, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi also expressed concern about granting bail, particularly to suspected rapists and murders saying such criminals should be denied bail.

Dr Venson-Moitoi also indicated that there were a lot of defilement cases where paedophiles were released only to repeat the offence.

She argued that the law must protect children and that social workers must be given the prerogative to be custodians of the victims, whom she said were minors in most cases.

Mr Phandu Skelemani, minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, also Francistown East MP, was also against granting bail to criminals; particularly suspected armed robbers, murderers and rapists.

Mr Skelemani argued that such criminals, once out on bail, repeated the offences hence the prosecution should have substantive reasons to deny them bail.

On other issues, Mr Skelemani commended Minister Seretse for the impending Court Annexed Mediation; a form of alternative dispute resolution which he said would improve case disposal levels.

Mr Skelemani also implored the minister to look into the issue of customer needs, in particular, disbursement of child maintenance funds to beneficiaries which he said those tasked with the responsibility were not helping customers as they should be.

Gaborone North MP, Mr Keletso Rakhudu was concerned about the security for judicial officers which he implored the minister to invest in.

Also, he said the minister must improve safety of courts where he said cases of attack on officers and journalists by criminals were on the rise.

Mr Rakhudu, also assistant minister of trade and industry, argued that Administration of Justice was an important body that provided critical services.

Further, he expressed concern about lack of access to the justice system in Botswana; something he said was the basic and fundamental in the lives of Batswana.

Tonota North MP, Mr Fidelis Molao was concerned about stock theft which he also said was rampant in his constituency, particularly in Marapong, Jamataka and Mabesekwa.

Mr Molao also argued that such cases were worsened by granting of bail to perpetrators.

He was also concerned about exhibit kraals which he said were full of stolen cattle and also the delay in disposing of stock theft cases.

The MP also implored Minister Seretse to undertake an open dialogue with the public on their concerns and perception about granting bail to repeat offenders.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, also Ngwaketse South MP, Mr Peter Siele, was also concerned about granting dangerous criminals bail.

Meanwhile, Parliament has approved over P163 million and over P62 million to be used by the Administration of Justice under the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security for both the recurrent and development budgets respectively for the next financial year. ENDS