16 Oct 2018

Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has commenced operations in Selebi Phikwe after recently setting up offices in the former mining town.

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi performed the official opening of the offices recently at an event that was held under the theme, Pushing Back the Frontiers of Crime to Create a Safe and Secure Environment Through the Provision of Convenient Quality Legal Services.

Initially, SPEDU region sourced DPP services from Francistown, Palapye and Gaborone offices.

But with the opening of DPP offices in Selebi Phikwe, communities from the region will spend less to access services. Mr Kgathi, who is also MP for Bobonong, said the facility would enhance the expedition of justice services in the region.

He said the setting up of the offices would reduce some systematic delays in the criminal justice process since stakeholders would be within reach.

Minister Kgathi said the new offices would play a role in the reduction of crime in the region as there would be speedy assessment of dockets, registration of cases and completion of trials and ultimate conviction of the perpetrators.

“Speedy trials by themselves act as a deterrent to would be criminals.

With speedy trials, seizure and confiscation of proceeds of crime, criminals and their associates will have no choice, but to reform their ways,” he said. The legislator explained that the opening of DPP offices in Selebi Phikwe marked a significant milestone in the fulfilment and achievement of the fourth Pillar of Vision 2036 of Governance, Peace and Security.

He said bringing such quality services to the civil society went a long way in ensuring a safe and secure nation where criminals were held accountable and justice facilitated for victims of crime.

Mr Kgathi indicated that with regards to the Cabinet Directive 32A issued in 2004 to enhance justice service delivery, as part of NDP 9, P209 million was allocated to the Attorney General Chambers for the construction of offices and residential accommodation for DPP staff in six regions.

He said to date, DPP had built offices in Gaborone, Francistown and opened other offices in Maun, Palapye, Lobatse and now Selebi Phikwe would be operating in rented premises.

He said the construction of offices in Maun and Palapye were ongoing and anticipated to be complete by 2020. DPP director, Mr Stephen Tiroyakgosi acknowledged government for facilitating the establishment of DPP offices in Selebi Phikwe.

He noted that 16 houses were secured in Selebi Phikwe for staff to the tune of well over P5 million, which showed a commitment to render services to the region.

 He said by decentralising DPP services, the rest of the country would help achieve Vision 2036 Pillar of Governance, Peace and Security.

For his part,  MP for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse commended defence ministry and in particular the Attorney General Chambers for setting up DPP offices in Selebi Phikwe.

He said the office would assist the town in the administration of justice especially now given the high rates of theft and burglary.

MP Keorapetse called on government to consider enforcing the independence of the DPP and to employ more lawyers or prosecutors to handle the back log of cases. He suggested that while at it, police officers be transferred back to only pursue their core duties of fighting crime, arresting perpetrators and conducting investigations.

Selebi Phikwe mayor, Mr Molosiwa Molosiwa pointed out that the new DPP office was a welcome development in Selebi Phikwe.

The offices, he said, would reduce costs of implementing justice services since officers would not have to travel to Palapye, Francistown or Gaborone.

He said setting up of offices in Selebi Phikwe demonstrated that the town would not collapse and become a ghost town like some thought.

Mr Molosiwa said government had shown commitment to the revitalisation of the Selebi Phikwe region after the collapse of the BCL mine by setting up government facilitiessuch as the DPP offices. ENDS