Despite recording a reduction in murder, defilement, threat to kill, robbery and fatal road accidents from January to May 2024, police in Chobe have raised the alarm about the escalating cases of rape, suicide, drunken driving and unlicensed driving in the district.
According to Officer Commanding District No.7 Senior Superintendent Meshack Pulenyane, despite concerted efforts by the police and other stakeholders to sensitize the public on road safety, some motorists continue to drive under the influence of alcohol. He said that a total of 65 drivers were charged for drunken driving as compared to 58 during the same period in 2023, whilst a total of 234 were charged for driving motor vehicles without driver’s license compared to a total of 185 recorded in 2023.
Pulenyane said that rape is still a concern in his district and most of the victims are youth between 18 and 35 years and perpetrators are well known to them such as ex-boyfriends or relatives and alcohol contributes to the crime. He revealed that a total of eight rape cases were recorded in 2023 and 2024 same periods. The district has already recorded a total of five suicide cases compared to the three cases that were recorded last year same period.
Pulenyane has appreciated the fact that other criminal offences have reduced in the district as one murder case has been registered this year as compared to two cases that were recorded in 2023 same period, while no cases of threat to kill were registered compared to two recorded last year.The district has not registered robbery cases while in 2023 two cases were recorded. Defilement cases registered in Chobe have reduced to six as compared to eight recorded last year. No lives were lost due to road fatal accidents this year compared to two lives lost last year.
Pulenyane noted that some of the strategies put in place to curb crime in his policing area include public education (Kgotla meetings, house to house campaign) on gender based violence issues. He stated that they address students in schools on defilement, juvenile delinquency, alcohol and drug abuse and road safety. Pulenyane said that they also conduct workshops and seminars sensitizing attendants on crime prevention measures and road safety.
