The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) have recorded 5 961 gender-based violence (GBV) cases from September 2019 to September this year.
his was revealed on Friday by NamPol head of the GBV unit Deputy Commissioner Johanna Situde in Windhoek, when she presented the national GBV cases recorded over the past 12 months.
She said that of the 5 961 GBV cases reported, 3 119 suspects have been arrested and 2 595 have appeared in various courts around the country while 892 cases were withdrawn for various reasons by the complainants.
Situde said 2 338 cases are still under investigation while 900 have been finalised with 712 suspects having been convicted, while 378 suspects were acquitted and their cases closed.
The Khomas region recorded the highest number of cases at 2 531 followed by Oshana region with 560 cases, Ohangwena 533, Hardap 502, and Omusati at number four with 336.
However, there are regions that recorded low numbers of cases such as Omaheke region with 91 cases, Otjozondjupa 75, and the Kunene region at 50 cases.
Of the rape cases, 869 were reported during the period under review with 604 arrests made and 594 have already made their court appearances.
A total of 25 of these cases were withdrawn by the complainants and 125 are still under investigation with four cases having been finalised, three convicted and nine acquitted.
Ohangwena region recorded the highest number of rape cases with a total of 218, followed by Khomas with 162 cases, Omusati 87, Hardap 69, and Kavango East at 60. Kavango West, Omaheke, and //Kharas recorded the lowest at 19, 11, and 10 cases respectively.
The deputy commissioner went on to say that 74 murder cases were reported to the police with 64 arrests made, and the suspects have all appeared in court. Ten cases are still under investigation and no case has yet been finalised and no one has been convicted either.
Khomas region recorded the highest number of murder cases at 16, followed by Ohangwena at 15, Kunene eight, Omusati six, and Omaheke region at five murder cases. – Nampa