06 Jul 2020

Member of Parliament (MP) for Kgalagadi North, Ms Talitha Monnakgotla has condemned gender based violence (GBV) that continues to wreak havoc in the country.

Ms Monnakgotla said the issue should not be ignored as it would continue to escalate across the country.

Addressing mourners on Saturday at Monong settlement to bid farewell to Ms Susan Sentime, 33, whose charred body was found in a vehicle near Jwaneng recently, she said GBV has affected the country socially and economically.

She said in most instances women and young girls suffered physical or sexual violence at the hands of their partners and even relatives.

The MP said society should continue to appreciate women and girls as they played a significant role in society.

She urged males to support their female counterparts for them to achieve their dreams. She also called on all legislators to join the fight against GBV,  saying it has turned some children into orphans.

She described the deceased as a hardworking person who took it upon herself to defy the odds and enter the male dominated taxi industry in order to put food on the table.

For her part, Jwaneng mayor, Ms Olga Ditsie shared the same sentiments with Kgalagadi North legislator on the dreadful consequences of GBV on society. She added that it should be uprooted at all costs. 

She also urged men to use their “God given physical strength” to protect their female counterparts, and not to use it to stop their loved one’s lives.

Another speaker, Botswana Democratic Party’s women’s wing member, Ms Mercia Sebonape said the country had been brought to its knees by the alarming rate of GBV, adding that it was taking its toll on communities. 

She urged political representatives and society to join hands and speak with one voice against GBV.

Ms Sebonape also encouraged parents to talk to their children to uphold good societal morals.

Another speaker from the Jwaneng Taxi Association, Mr Moemedi Serolong said they started working with Ms Sentime in 2017 as the only female taxi operator.

He noted that she was committed to her job and performed exceptionally well in an industry dominated by males.

Mr Serolong added that Ms Sentime was a loving person who, despite her young age, they respected a lot as she portrayed motherly love to them and would advocate for their welfare issues.

Other speakers described the deceased as a loving, caring, friendly person and a sport fanatic.

The deceased is survived by her mother, two siblings and two children, a boy and a girl. Ends