16 Jun 2025

Churches have been  called on to incorporate education on GBV into their teachings. 

Superintendent Joseph Lepodise, Maun station commander, made the call during a thanksgiving ceremony at St. Paul Faith Mission Church in Maun on Sunday.

He said that many incidents of abuse occur in homes and even within churches. 

Supt Lepodise expressed concern that some victims choose not to report abuse out of fear of judgment or damaging reputation, a silence that often leads to further trauma and social media disclosure.

“Some members of the church do not report such cases to protect the church’s reputation, which is deeply disturbing,” he stated.

He therefore urged the public to promptly report incidents of child abuse to the relevant authorities to ensure justice and protection for children saying there was   rising number of  of gender-based violence cases ) in the area.

Superintendent Lepodise pointed out that children remained vulnerable due to GBV, with police recording a troubling number of abuse cases. 

He lamented that many cases go unreported, partly because some parents were persuaded by perpetrators to ignore or cover up the acts. He listed common cases reported to the police, including defilement, rape, and other forms of violence such as assault.

 To combat this, he said, the police have established a Child-Friendly Centre in Maun, designed to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children can freely report abuse. Supt Lepodise emphasised the importance of community members utilising the facility and urged them to alert officers of any suspected violations of children’s rights.

“The centre is operated by professionals trained in handling cases concerning children. I encourage the public to report any form of abuse, whether confirmed or suspected. It is crucial to protect our children from harm,” he said.

Superintendent Lepodise also explained that GBV was a broad term encompassing any harmful act committed against a person’s will.  He shared statistical updates from his jurisdiction, noting that between January and April, this year, there had been eight murders, a reduction from 16 cases recorded for the entire previous year.  There were also 28 defilement cases and 33 cases of rape so far this year, compared to 94 and 98 cases respectively last year.

Chairperson of the Bahumagadi ba Goo Tawana Association, Ms Galetshepiwe Lelatlhego echoed same concerns, highlighting the serious nature of child abuse. She stressed the importance of community involvement in protecting children, especially in light of the high rates of teenage pregnancy. 

Ms Lelatlhego urged parents to practice positive parenting to create a nurturing environment conducive to children’s well-being.

She also warned against exposing children to parental arguments and vulgar language, noting that children tend to imitate what they see at home, which could lead to anxiety and behavioural issues later in life.  She emphasised that open communication and demonstrating love at home were crucial in making children feel safe and secure.

“Our homes should be safe havens where children feel loved and protected. As parents, we are role models, and we must live by example. It is also important to limit children’s exposure to phones and social media,” she said.

Pastor Molemisi Maseletsane of St. Paul Faith Mission Church commended the efforts to raise awareness about GBV, stating that they aligned with the church’s mission to mentor youth and address social issues.

 He expressed the church’s commitment to being a source of hope and compassion, supporting community outreach initiatives, and offering support to those in need. 

The church aims to attract youth through various programmes, including music and band activities, with the goal of guiding young people towards positive life choices, he said. ENDS