Councillor denied bail over child rape charges
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Wednesday February 11, 2026 16:13
The 42-year-old councilor appeared before Francistown Magistrate Court, where the state argued that Jerry should be kept in custody due to the risk of witness intimidation and community anger.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged incident occurred on January 30, and the victim’s family reported the matter to the authorities on January 31.
The Investigating Officer (IO) Oamogetswe Gaboutlwelwe, from the Gender and Child Protection Unit, testified that the victim and her family are still traumatized by the incident and are receiving counseling.
Gaboutlwelwe stated that she received a report on January 31, alleging that the victim was sexually assaulted by Jerry, and subsequently recorded a statement from the victim and took her for medical attention.
She told the court that the police are taking the allegations very seriously and are working to ensure that the victim receives the necessary support and protection.
She explained that the police are seeking two weeks to record the outstanding two statements and conduct further investigations, including DNA analysis.
Gaboutlwelwe emphasised that Jerry should be remanded in custody to protect the child, citing the Children's Act, which prioritizes the child's best interests and protection from harm.
She also expressed concerns that Jerry, being a prominent figure in the community, could intimidate witnesses or influence the investigation if released on bail.
She also highlighted the need to protect Jerry from the angry community, who might take the law into their own hands or carry out mob justice.
Jerry's lawyer, Molosiwa Molosiwa, applied for bail, citing that 80% of the witness statements had been collected and that the accused was entitled to be released on bail pending trial, as per the Constitution of Botswana.
However, Principal Magistrate Thapelo Buang denied Jerry bail, citing the risk of witness intimidation and community anger.
Jerry will appear in court again on March 5th for a bail hearing.
The case has sparked widespread concern and outrage in the community, with many calling for justice for the victim and her family.