Murder suspect on the run

Kabelo Dipholo
CONCERNED: Oketsang

Police in Serowe are on the hunt for a 35- year -old man in connection with the murder of his 28- year- old girlfriend.

Officer Commanding No.2 District, Senior Superintendent Paul Oketsang told The Voice that the suspect stabbed the victim several times with a knife before fleeing.

“What we’ve gathered so far is that the suspect was from Mmathethe village while the murdered woman is from Dukwi,” said Oketsang.

- Advertisement -

Oketsang said the increasing number of murder and attempted murder cases in his area are worrying.

“Last Monday, a man strangled his girlfriend to death with a scarf in Palapye. He was arrested at Sese Gate, along Francistown/Gaborone road,” he said.

Oketsang said in 2017 and 2018 they registered 31 murder/attempted murder cases respectively, while in 2019 the cases increased to 48. “This is a significant increase of 17, and as members of the police we are concerned,” he said.

The police boss also bemoaned the increasing number of rape cases.

He said they recorded 227 rape cases in 2017, 261 in 2018 and 268 in 2019. “You can see that there’s an upward trajectory, a trend we have to stop,” he said.

The top cop said their concern is that all their efforts to curb GBV seem to be failing. “We’ve been talking to people through various programmes at Kgotla meetings and clinics, but all these efforts are not bearing fruits,” cried Oketsang.

“I think the entire nation needs counseling. It looks like everyone has issues, so we all have to go for counseling because this has now reached crisis level,” he said.

- Advertisement -

Oketsang further called on all media houses to report on issues of GBV responsibly to avoid perpetuating the situation. “The media is an important stakeholder in the fight against this violent behaviour. We need them to spread this message and to energise everyone to join us in the fight against GBV.”

Leave a comment