16 May 2022

The village of Mmeya in Boteti East constituency is reportedly experiencing a worrying number of defilement cases, with seven currently under investigation.

The defilement cases involve primary and junior secondary school girls, who are reported to have been sexually abused and impregnated by elderly men.

The Village Development Committee (VDC) Chairperson, Ms Balemogi Pono told a recent kgotla meeting addressed by Boteti East Legislator, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe that some parents were complicit with perpetrators by not reporting such incidents.

“Young girls at primary and secondary schools drop out of school due to pregnancy and some of them never get an opportunity to continue with their studies,” said Ms Pono.

She therefore appealed to law enforcement officers to take action against those who gave perpetrators an opportunity to sexually abuse young children.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Polson Keitlhaganetse of Mmeya expressed concern about parents who were reluctant to encourage their children to take education seriously, even though it was a powerful tool that could encourage them to make informed decisions and stand up for themselves.

Mr Keitlhaganetse said children who were not empowered, easily fell victim of criminal masterminds.

MP Lelatisitswe was equally concerned about the alarming number of defilement and under age pregnancy cases.

He said in an effort to curb such cases and protect the girl-child, government came up with stringent laws to deal with perpetrators.

He also appealed to the Mmeya community to report any wrong doing affecting their children, adding that it was unfortunate as some parents were enticed by the perpetrators to pay no attention to such immoral acts.

Mr Lelatisitswe appealed to parents to join hands with the police and social welfare officers to fight any form of criminality against children.

“Let us work together for the health and future of the girl-child,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, an official from the community welfare office in Letlhakane, Mr Victor Thake said defilement cases were a major concern and therefore urged parents to take action against perpetrators.

Mr Thake said parents, who were reluctant or failed to report such cases, were as guilty as the perpetrators.

“Children under the age of 18 will not consent in sexual activities and therefore whoever sexually engages with a girl-child is guilty,” he said.

He revealed that his office was in the process of reviving district child protection committees, to fight abuse of children.

Stressing that defilement was a form of gender based violence, Mr Thake said 90 per cent of the suspects were known to the victims and parents, adding that it was unfortunate that some people failed to report such cases. ENDS