10 Dec 2020

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi says there was only one case in 2019 in which a nurse who had received a preliminary report from a rape victim was called as a state witness.

Mr Mmusi said only medical officers and practitioners had the authority to compile medical reports hence nurses were rarely called to give evidence in court.

He noted that between 2017 and 2019, 2 134 rape cases were reported on average annually which translated to an average of 173 per month while defilement cases recorded were 850 making it 70 cases per month.

Mr Mmusi said the ministry had proposed to establish an inter sectoral sexual offenders council through the Sexual Offenders Registry Bill 2020, which would be responsible for developing a national policy framework as well as ensuring the development of integrated and multi sectoral policy interventions targeting sexual violence. He further noted that the ministry, through the Botswana Police

Service (BPS) and the Administration of Justice, were working on the establishment of child friendly and gender based violence (GBV) victim friendly courts and police stations.

He said the initiative was aimed to develop and strengthen the capacity of the BPS and the courts to effectively respond to sexual offences. He added that the expected outcome was a safe and supporting environment for victims of sexual offencesi.

“The Botswana Police Service is also engaged in ongoing capacitation and training of officers to enhance their ability and professionalism in handling sexual assault cases, gender based violence toll-free number (0800 600 144) was introduced in April 2020. Furthermore, the government of Botswana intends to establish a gender and child protection unit by 1st April 2021.

The Administration of Justice has also established specialised courts at the level of chief magistrate courts to treat all gender based violence cases as urgent matters that must be expedited in accordance with practice directive No.9 of 2020,” said Mr Mmusi.

The minister explained that the courts were at Molepolole, Gaborone, Francistown, Maun, Palapye and Selebi Phikwe, and that an additional court would be established in Mogoditshane during this financial year.

Specially Elected MP, Dr Unity Dow had asked the minister about the number of cases where a nurse was a witness in a rape case.

She also wanted to know the estimated rate of reporting sexual offences in Botswana, and what legal or policy reforms were considered to promote reporting of sexual assault cases and success in prosecution of same. Ends