28 Mar 2021

Total of 629 women were murdered by men in five years, between 2015 and 2019, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi has said.

Responding to a question in Parliament on March 25, Mr Mmusi said 545 suspects were arrested during the period, out of which 56 were prosecuted resulting with 33 convictions and 23 acquittals.

The remaining 489 suspects have their cases pending at different levels, either before courts or still under investigations.

Minister Mmusi said 84 suspects committed suicide after killing their victims. Out of the 33, 10 were sentenced to death and none were given a non-custodial sentence.

The minister said six of the accused persons were repeat offenders.

Minister Mmusi said 30 men had  been killed by women in the same period.

He said to address the issue, efforts had been made at different fora and platforms aimed at bringing the situation under control.

This, he said, included interactions through dipitso with members of the public including men and boys who were the main perpetrators as well as general population.

Btv, through Itshereletse and various media houses have also been engaged to sensitise members of the public about criminal acts.

He said this was a societal problem which required a multi-dimensional and multi-sectorial approach, which involved various ministries, civil society, dikgosi, various religious institutions and the community at large.

The minister said all police stations across the country dealt with cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and always strove to protect the victims.

He said the Administration of Justice had established special courts to the level of Chief Magistrate Courts to deal with GBV cases in a speedy manner in Molepolole, Gaborone, Francistown, Maun, Palapye and Selebi Phikwe.

The minister said an additional court would be established in Mogoditshane.

From December last year, the Chief Justice ordered that all GBV cases be treated as urgent cases.

Additionally, the minister said an Inter-Ministerial GBV Committee had also been launched.

Selebi Phikwe West MP, Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked the minister to update Parliament on the number of women murdered by men in the last five years.

He asked the minister to state the number of cases where suspects were arrested, prosecuted and resulted in convictions or acquittals.

MP Keorapetse also asked the minister to state the number of cases in which suspects were sentenced to jail, death and non-custodial sentences.

He also wanted to know the extent of recidivism in respect of the said accused persons or convicts.

MP Keorapetse also wanted the minister to say what  government was doing to address GBV. ENDS