07 Oct 2020

Community leaders in Ramotswa and Taung have called for stiffer penalties against gender based violence.

The leaders made their views known during a kgotla meeting addressed by the area MP and Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Mr Lefoko Moagi on Tuesday.

First to set the tone was Balete Kgosi Kgolo, Kgosi Mosadi Seboko who said gender based violence should not be condoned.

Kgosi Mosadi said it was regrettable that there was an emerging trend of abusing children hence she said there was need for stiffer penalties for the perpetrators, saying life imprisonment should be imposed upon those found to have raped young children.

Another tribesman, Kgosi Tsimane Mokgosi said Balete reiterated the call for life imprisonment for those committing sexual offences against children, saying there was need to safeguard the interests of the young children who depended on adults for security. 

Kgosi Tsimane said a lesser sentence would not be suitable, as it would allow such people back into the community and continue their evil deeds.

He said such people should be considered to be community outcast with no place in the society.

Therefore, he requested Minister Moagi to argue on behalf of the Balete community for life sentences for those who defile children.

For his part, Minister Moagi said gender based violence issues were a thorn to the community hence the need to join hands to curb the problem.

He said the problem did not only affect women and children but it also affected the boychild and men.

On other issues, Kgosi Mosadi said there was need to include kgotla meetings among meetings allowed during the state of emergency.

Kgosi Mosadi said kgotla was a place of sharing ideas and information, adding that some of those ideas could help in the fight against COVID 19. ENDS