23 Jul 2025

 Chief Magistrate of Extension II Magistrate Court,  Ms Kamogelo Mmesi has warned Nonofo Gaboetswe, a victim of gender-based violence to be cautious, lest she becomes another homicide statistic.

The chief magistrate made the remarks on Thursday, while admitting Gaboetswe to bail after she was taken into custody from a women’s shelter where she had taken refuge. Gaboetswe was incarcerated after police investigations revealed that her boyfriend was nursing stab wounds allegedly inflicted by her. 

Although the stab wounds were not reported to the police, Gaboetswe had reported a threat to kill matter to the police, but did not mention stabbing her boyfriend. Chief Magistrate Mmesi noted that the matter had the hallmarks of an abusive relationship, which could potentially lead to death unless both parties restrained themselves. 

“I do not want your blood on my hands,” she said, adding that even the prosecution was concerned about her safety.

Despite this, the magistrate admitted Gaboetswe to bail, saying she could not deny her bail from the offence she faced. Hence she ordered her to bind herself with P1,000 and find two Batswana sureties who would bind themselves with the same amount.  The court also ordered that Gaboetswe should not come into contact with her boyfriend until the matter was resolved.

Chief Magistrate Mmesi further advised Gaboetswe to relocate to a safe place, after she had informed the court that the boyfriend did not know where she stayed in her home village. Gaboetswe, who hails from the Greater Gaborone vicinity, reported a threat to kill matters to the police on June 23, and she was subsequently taken for safety at a women’s shelter. 

Her boyfriend, who was then a suspect was arrested in Tsolamosese on July 7, where he was found nursing stab wounds on the ribs and upper right arm. Upon police investigations, Gaboetswe was arrested and charged with threat to kill the case will be mentioned before the court on August 27.  ENDS