05 Jul 2021

Penal Code Amendment Bill 2021 is expected to enhance penalties for sexual violence, thereby reducing incidents of sexual offences. 

The legislation would protect the boy-child since false accusations of rape would be criminalised, said Maun Land Tribunal president, Mr Tebogo Masala at a stakeholder consultative meeting organised by Women Against Rape (WAR) in Maun recently.

He said punishment for those falsely accusing others of rape should be stiff because false accusations were detrimental and those accused hardly recover.

He also said the increase of sentences for rape perpetrators would ensure that the victims were protected.

Mr Masala, however, encouraged government to educate the nation about issues of sexual violence, adding that some people committed offences due to lack of knowledge.

He also expressed concern about delayed judgements for rape cases, saying such left the victims with emotional trauma for too long.

For his part, head of psycho-social department at WAR, Mr Baleseng James, said they continued to register high numbers of sexual offence cases, especially against the women. 

He, therefore, appreciated the bill for protecting the women and girl child, who were vulnerable.

He also appreciated that government had established a gender based violence special court in Molepolole as a response to high number of cases of violence. Ends