Public's safety at courts a cause for trepidation

This follows incidents where members of the public, journalists and security agents were attacked by remanded accused persons at the Village Magistrate court.  The manner in which remanded suspects are rendered freedom of movement, with little control until they start to physically threaten members of the public and journalists is eyebrow raising and breeds concern over public security.

The lower courts in Botswana are unsafe for members of the public, as the suspects and members of the public are seated together in one compartment behind the lawyers without being separated by anything. When the accused persons enter and leave the dock, they pass in front of the magistrate, without any protection measures in place.