12 Nov 2020

A total of 440 cases were registered under the Domestic Violence Act in various magistrates courts in 2019, says the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi.

Responding to a question from Specially Elected MP, Dr Unity Dow, Mr Mmusi said out of the stated number, 298 cases completed within 30 days making a 60 per cent completion rate.

Still, under Domestic Violence Act cases, Mr Mmusi said 735 cases of divorce were filed in 2019 with one or more elements of domestic violence alleged as a ground for divorce in 511 cases.

He said where all pre-trial formalities had been complied with, the average duration of divorce proceedings for defended cases was 12 months whilst an undefended case was three months.

Mr Mmusi indicated that his ministry came into the picture after the event since the police, prosecutors and courts dealt with GBV after it happened.

He, however, noted that his ministry engaged in proactive and preventative measures to address GBV.

He said his ministry had established units in key departments that dealt with GBV, saying it was necessary for other ministries dealing with GBV cases to do the same.

He said in his ministry, the Botswana Police Service, Directorate of Public Prosecutors and Administration of Justice had already established specialised structures within their departments to deal with GBV in terms of expedited investigations, prosecution and adjudication of GBV crime.

Furthermore, Mr Mmusi said his ministry responsibility was to ensure that the necessary legislative framework was in place to enhance efforts to address crime.

He also said the Penal Code was being amended to enhance penalties, adding that the Sex Offenders Registry Bill 2020 would also contribute to addressing incidences of GBV.

Mr Mmusi indicated that as of December, specialised courts in Molepolole, Gaborone, Francistown, Maun, Palapye, and Selebi Phikwe as well as Mogoditshane, would be established at the level of chief Mmagistrates’ courts that shall treat all GBV cases as urgent matters that must be expedited.

Dr Dow had asked the Minister to state the number and percentage of cases brought under Domestic Violence Act cases which were concluded within 30 days in 2019 as well as the number of cases where domestic violence was a factor in divorces filed in the same year.

She further asked the Minister to state the policies and structures considered necessary to curb the increased incidences of GBV. ENDS