Sakuwa-Neo raises concern over rising GBV cases in Kavango West

NKURENKURU, 25 JUN (NAMPA) - The Namibian Police Force in the Kavango West Region has raised concern over escalating incidents of gender-based violence (GBV) in the region.
“In 2024, we had 31 rape cases, and arrested 25 suspects,” regional police commander, Commissioner Julia Sakuwa-Neo, reported during the official launch of the #EndGBVNamibia campaign held in Nkurenkuru on Tuesday.
Sakuwa-Neo said the statistics paint a grim picture of violence, with particularly shocking incidents, including a tragic case involving a one-month-old baby who was fatally injured.
“In 2025, from January to date, we have had 20 rape cases, 18 arrests and two attempted rape cases with one arrest. Crime against the youth, we had two and two were arrested. Murder read with domestic violence, we had five and then five were arrested, attempted murder, we had six and three arrests,” the commander said.
She also stated that for 14 GBV were reported which led to 11 arrests.
“Assault through threat we had seven cases and arrested five of those suspects. Common assault, we had two and those two were arrested. So, the total number of cases for this year up to June is 60 in total.”
The region recorded 55 crimes of the same nature over the same period last year.
“We are accelerating. We are far ahead,” said Sakuwa-Neo, noting that most victims are minors and the elderly, with the Bunya area emerging as a primary hotspot for criminal activities.
The commander noted that alcohol abuse contributes to gender-based violence.
Sakuwa-Neo added that the report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for community intervention and support in addressing gender-based violence in the Kavango West Region.
(NAMPA)
JLN/HP/AS