The call was made by Commissioner of Police, Dinah Marathe, while reflecting on festive holidays Operation Pabalesego II ‘s crime overview recently. Marathe said police observations during the festive holidays revealed worrying trends, particularly the neglect of children by parents and guardians. According to the police chief, many children were left home alone as parents travelled to cattle posts, lands and other rural areas, while others went out to harvest phane (mopane worms).
The rise in defilement and missing persons cases, particularly over the recent festive period, points not merely to a failure of policing, but to a profound and widespread societal crisis. Whilst the Police chief’s plea is rightly directed at parents, the root of this emergency runs deeper, demanding a collective response from every corner of our community. Marathe’s observations paint a picture of neglect with children left alone for…
