Mogoditshane, a hub of serious crimes
Sharon Mathala | Wednesday November 2, 2016 18:00
This is why the Police service decided for the first time ever to host the launch of the 60 Days of Action on Crime and Road Safety Campaign in the village, said Makgophe.
“One might ask why we have chosen to launch this year’s campaign here in Mogoditshane. It is the leading district in terms of crime statistics in this country,” he said.
“The most horrendous crimes such as murders, armed robberies, rape, home invasions etc are committed here including road traffic accidents,” the Police Commissioner added.
He said for the year 2015, Mogoditshane and its surrounding areas contributed about 16% of the overall crime in Botswana.
“A total of 432,698 serious crimes were recorded in the whole country and the area recorded a total of 67,246, and these are only reported cases. Imagine those cases which were not reported to the police,” Makgophe said.
This (figure) however, Makgophe says, may have contributed as Mogoditshane and surrounding areas house around 113,000 people made up of both local and foreign nationals.
“Mogoditshane is also a thriving business and entertainment hub for the area west of the capital city, hosting a series of accommodation facilities, manufacturing companies car dealership and many liquor outlets including the informal sector.” The police boss also expressed concern of the influx of drugs into the country.
“What is worrying with drugs, especially Dagga (motokwane), is that the perpetrators are our own children. They do so with the assistance of foreign nationals,” he said.
Makgophe said what they have observed is that “those that sell these drugs are parents, whom themselves do not use the drugs. What baffles us is whose child are they selling to when their own are not using?”.
Addressing issues of road safety, Makgophe said that during last year’s campaign, a total of 79 people died due to road accidents as compared to 100 in 2014.
“Although this reflects a decrease the number of lives lost is still very high especially considering the relatively short time period under reference.”
He also stated that since the beginning of the year, a total of 362 people died due to road accidents as compared to 362 lives lost same period.