Crime Statistics Report 2020: A Look into Botswana’s Judicial System

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Botswana’s judicial system has seen a notable increase in the number of decided cases in Magisterial Courts across the country. According to a report released by the Ministry of Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Services, there was a total of 9,499 cases disposed of in 2020.

Top-Performing Courts

The report highlights that some courts have performed better than others in terms of the number of decided cases. The top five courts are:

• Bobonong Magistrate Court: 116 cases
• Broadhurst: 280 cases
• Extension Two: 424 cases
• Francistown: 332 cases
• Village: 123 cases

Courts with a Decline in Cases

On the other hand, some courts have seen a decline in the number of decided cases. These include:

• Gantsi: 159 cases (a decrease from 167 in 2017)
• Gumare: fewer cases than in previous years

Increase in Cases over the Years

The report also highlights that some courts have seen an increase in the number of cases over the years. For example:

• Extension Two has seen an increase of 1,332 cases since 2017.
• Francistown has seen an increase of 1087 cases.

Types of Cases

Although the report does not provide information on the types of cases that were disposed of, it is expected that the majority will be related to crimes such as:

• Theft
• Assault
• Drug-related offenses

Conclusion

The report suggests that Botswana’s judicial system is dealing with a significant number of cases. Efforts should be made to reduce the backlog and ensure that justice is served efficiently.