22 Nov 2022

Child abuse is on the rise in Maun and has forced authorities to place some of the victims under protective care. Maun Administrative Authority (MAA)Sub District Chairperson, Vepaune Moreti told a council meeting yesterday that as many as 111 children were either defiled or raped in the last three months, up from 109 in the last quarter.

 Kareng recorded the highest number with 20 defilement cases reported by October 2022. Bodibeng/Bothatogo followed with 10, then Komana/Toteng with seven and Sehithwa with six. 

Other cases registered were those of child neglect and children living in difficult circumstances, he said. 

“This has prompted the sub-district to enforce child protection strategies…The department of social protection has now placed 20 children…in institutions for safety,” he said Mr Moreti said 11 of the children had been placed in SOS villages in Francistown and Tlokweng as well as Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre in Francistown. 

The remaining nine children were being cared for by Love Botswana and Women against Rape shelters in Maun. 

“These placements are done in the best interest of the child,” he said, adding it was an expensive undertaking. 

Mr Moreti called for community support in fighting child abuse. 

Such support included reporting any suspicious violations to law enforcement, he said. ENDS