27 Jul 2015

Maun is experiencing an alarming rate of rape cases which law enforcement officers and some village leaders attribute to entertainment spots and late night church services.

This form of crime was not committed in isolation but with come along with threats, assault as well as other heinous offences such as murder.

Boseja headman, Kgosi Kesiilwe Ledimo confirmed in an interview that rape was a worrisome epidemic that was becoming problematic in contemporary Maun due to many factors such as sex myths, culture of silence associated with rape, modern influences and peer group pressure among several others.

He said many entertainment places in the village had a huge role to play in the alarming rate of rape cases adding that alcohol and drugs were usually significant factors in rape cases.

“These substances affect the judgment of both the rapist and the victim. The man might not hear “No” and the woman might have difficulty expressing her negative feelings about the situation because she is too inebriated,” he added.

Kgosi Ledimo also stated that in their olden days, rape used to be an issue that was hushed in whispers or rumours because it belonged to the realm of forbidden acts and was indeed not common.

He said rape incidents were rare unlike today where men enticed women with money.

He said women who came from disadvantaged families fall in the trap of being abused sexually because they want to earn a living.

Kgosi Ledimo said although most people imagine rape to be committed by strangers in dark alleys at night, “this is just a myth; in all actuality, the majority of rapes are committed by someone that the victim knows and perhaps even trusts”.

Ms Mala Dithapo from Spiritual Healing Church shared the sentiments that incidents of rape were rampant in Maun. She said times were changing and had altered society’s ideas about sex in general adding that women were beginning to engage in sexual activities at a younger age.

Maun station commander, Superintendent Peter Gochela said, last year, the police recorded 104 cases and this year from January to June, they recorded 60.

He said the statistics showed that indeed rape had become the order of the day as they were reported almost every day.

Superintendent Gochela stated that most reported cases were of women who walked alone at night from entertainment places adding that the most vulnerable women were aged 35 and below.

He said the majority of cases involved victims being raped by ex-boyfriends, people whom they know, strangers, false prophets while a few cases involve women being attacked in their homes.

He noted that alcohol consumption was one of the contributing factors as alcohol impaired judgment, caused men and women to make poor decisions they would not have made when sober.

Superintendent Gochela said Maun had a lot of entertainment places some of which were closed in the early hours of morning and rapists took advantage of women who walked alone at that time.

However the police chief said most of the suspects were arrested and brought before the law.

Superintendent Gochela said they had made an arrangement with the courts to give rape cases priority when they come for registration.

He noted that it is a pleasure to see the community especially church members who have pledged to join hands with the police coming forth to say NO to rape and domestic violence.

Recently, the police embarked on a massive campaign at Boseja ward to stand against rape. Ends