01 Nov 2020

Gender-based violence (GBV) has become so rife that it is now a national crisis, First Lady Neo Masisi said after completing a 20km cycle challenge in Jwaneng on Saturday.

“A segment of members of our society has decided to turn predator, preying on fellow members,” she said.

The first lady said the situation called for the nation to rise with a common purpose to fight the scourge.

Ms Masisi said GBV was not only costly emotionally but also financially because able-bodied people could end up being physically disabled resulting in job losses and failure to provide for families.

In addition, the nation lost a lot of funds in medicals and litigation, she said.
She encouraged men to develop a habit of speaking out and seeking psycho-social support.

Ms Masisi also said police should educate people on the importance of preserving DNA evidence in cases such as rape.

“There are instances where victims lose cases because they did not have enough evidence, sometimes having lost it through bathing or other ways just because they did not know that by doing so, they were erasing evidence,” she said.

People must also be taught how to present solid evidence before the courts,  said the first lady.

She further said GBV victims should be seen as more than just statistics but  as human beings.

For her part, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi said men were the most perpetrators of GBV because they bottled emotions, which eventually exploded resulting in heinous crimes.

She urged men to learn to speak up and seek psycho-social support

Ms Mokgethi called on society to change the way it socialised children.

Quoting research, she said 44 per cent of abusive men had been abused as children while 37 per cent of women and 21 per cent of men were once abused in their lifetime.

“If children are abused they are likely to turn abusers in future, and the abuse is done by mothers, close relatives and even teachers at school in the name of disciplining the kids,” she said.

Another speaker, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Pilane Sebigi said there were usually build-up signs before commission of GBV crimes which society often ignored.

“We urge you to come forth and report such signs so that the right action could be taken before it is too late. Signals are always there and you should work with our community cluster police if you detect something amiss. We should be proactive rather than reactive to GBV issues,” he said.

Mr Sebigi expressed concern about victims’ tendency to withdraw cases saying the law must be allowed to take its course.

In her welcome remarks, Jwaneng mayor, Ms Olga Ditsie said Ms Masisi’ efforts had laid a foundation in the town.

She promised that sensitization would be done more often.

The event was graced by among others, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Mr Lemogang Kwape, Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Karabo Gare and Jwaneng-Mabutsane MP, Mr Mephato Reatile. ENDS