08 Aug 2019

Assistant Superintendent Chenamo Orateng of Maun police says Maun has recorded eight murder cases since the beginning of the year.

Assistant Superintendent Orateng made the revelation at a remembrance prayers for ‘passion killings’ victims organised by Ms Boitshoko Moremi in Maun on August 7 evening.

He said six of the eight murder cases involved lovers in what is commonly known as ‘passion killings’. 

Assistant Supt Orateng further said 11 murder cases were recorded in 2018. 

He said the rising number of such killings was a concern to the police and society.

Victims of passion killings, he noted, left behind children as orphans while the country lost people who could be contributing to the economy. 

He observed that murder cases resulted from continuous abuse of victims by perpetrators.

He therefore appealed to people experiencing any form of violence to report and seek counselling as early as possible from social workers, the police and Dikgosi who offer the service at no costs.

Some victims, he said had a tendency of protecting assault perpetrators by failing to report while some reported but made a habit of withdrawing cases.

Assistant Supt Orateng therefore appreciated Ms Moremi for hosting such an event of remembrance of gender based violence victims, most of who were women murdered by their lovers.

He observed that the Police can only succeed in reducing crime through partnerships with the community. 

In her remarks, Ms Moremi said the killings were heartbreaking which is why she saw the need to host prayers in honour of the victims.

Ms Moremi said passion killings affected the community not only families of the victims, saying it was disheartening that some happened in the presence of young children

“It’s a memorial service to remember victims who were robbed their lives and plans in this world”, she said. ENDS