06 Nov 2017

Minister of Defence Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi has called on Tobane residents to work together with law enforcement officers to combat crime.

Minister Kgathi, who is also Member of Parliament for Bobirwa made this call when addressing a kgotla meeting in Tobane on November 3.

He said combating crime needed concerted efforts from everyone in the village, adding that statistics recorded by the police had revealed that from 2014 up to date, eight murder cases had been recorded in Tobane.

Mr Kgathi said 16 rape cases, 71 assault common cases, 38 unlawful wounding cases had been recorded, adding such crimes emanated from fights taking place at shebeens.

Furthermore, he said other cases included 37 common nuisance cases, 26 cases of hiring expatriates mostly from Zimbabwe without workers permits which had been recorded at the village.

He also added that stock theft cases recorded in the area by the police indicated that in 2014, 52 cases were reported, 50 in 2015, 45 in 2016 and 32 cases had been recorded so far since the beginning of this year up to date.

He cited the sale of dagga and cocaine as one of the major problems faced in the country, Tobane included.

The Bobonong legislator raised a concern that residents knew the people engaged in the illicit trade of such substance but they refused to disclose them.

Mr Kgathi said in most instances residents pulled back when they were expected to give evidence against them, noting that the move was a drawback in combating crime, as it created a backlog in cases handled by the police.

On other issues, Minister Kgathi noted that he would present a bill before the next parliament session, proposing that the retirement age of personnel in the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), particularly the army commanders be increased from 47 years to 55 years to 60 or 62 years.

He mentioned that the proposal would focus on requesting the Police, Prisons and Botswana Defence Force personnel to be regulated by the Arms and Disciplined Forces Act instead of the Public Service Act because their line of duty was different from that of civil servants.

Minister Kgathi also indicated that he would also present the Cyber Crime and Computer Related Bill as well as the Stock Theft Act Amendment Bill and the Arms and Ammunition Bill.

For his part, the Officer Commanding District No.10 Senior Superintendent Takongwa Mazwiduma expressed concern that stock theft was rampant along the Botswana –Zimbabwe border line.

He said while some people from Zimbabwe were alleged to have stolen livestock in Botswana and crossing over back to Zimbabwe, the same occurred in Botswana where some Batswana stole livestock from Zimbabwe.

Senior Supt Mazwiduma said they had apprehended some people who had stolen donkeys from Zimbabwe.

Earlier on when giving welcome remarks, Kgosi Nametso Julia Motlhasedi of Tobane indicated that the escalating crime in the village was a major concern.

She requested the minister to consider deploying more police officers at Tobane to help combat crime in the village.

She also indicated that shortage of accommodation for police officers and civil servants was also a setback in service delivery to residents of the village.

Kgosi Motlhasedi requested that the police in the village be provided with an office or porta cabin, adding that currently the police shared offices with tribal administration officers.

Councillor for Tobane/Tshokwe, Mr Dintelo Mosweunyane also called on residents to work as a united team to combat crime.

He explained that if they did not assist police or work with law enforcement officers to combat crime, it would continue to rise

He also urged residents to desist from holding back information or evidence on related crimes experienced in the village. ENDS