…while police fail to respond to crimes timeously due to shortage of vehicles
Hopolang Mokhopi
THE Mokhotlong police have lamented a lack of resources as a major hindrance to their ability to respond swiftly to crime, warning that the shortage of vehicles is delaying officers from attending to reported incidents, with some cases taking days before police can reach the scene, particularly sexual offences.
The concern was raised by Inspector Seemane Nkhahle, who commands the Child and Gender Protection Unit (CGPU) in Mokhotlong, during a meeting in the district with representatives from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development, Vodacom Lesotho, the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) and Letšeng Diamonds.
Insp Nkhahle made the remarks while presenting challenges faced by police in Mokhotlong District, covering cases recorded at Mokhotlong Police Station and Tlokoeng Police Station between 2024 and 2026.
According to the statistics presented, the cases recorded in the district include gender-based violence (GBV), sexual offences involving both adults and minors, teenage pregnancies, early child marriages and domestic violence.
Insp Nkhahle said the situation was not limited to Mokhotlong Police Station, noting that figures from Tlokoeng Police Station also show a worrying trend.
“In 2024, Tlokoeng Police Station recorded 30 sexual assault cases involving adults and 35 involving minors, four of which resulted in pregnancy,” he said.
He added that during the same year, police also recorded eight abduction cases and 10 incidents of physical assault.
“The situation worsened in 2025, with sexual assault cases rising to 45 involving adults and 50 involving minors. Of those cases, 19 resulted in pregnancies.
“Abduction cases increased to 12, while incidents of physical violence more than doubled to 25,” Insp Nkhahle explained.
Although 2026 is still in its early months, he said the station had already recorded three sexual assault cases involving adults, two involving minors and five incidents of physical violence.
Despite these figures, authorities believe the real scale of the problem could be much higher, as many cases in rural communities remain unreported due to stigma, fear and the long distances residents must travel to access police services.
Insp Nkhahle said he needed at least one vehicle dedicated to his department as they were overwhelmed with sexual offences and GBV cases.
“We are experiencing serious challenges due to a shortage of vehicles. In some cases, officers take days to reach crime scenes, especially in remote areas,” said Insp Nkhahle.
He appealed for improved office equipment to enable accurate data collection, as well as additional resources such as camping tents to help officers effectively respond to cases across the district.
Insp Nkhahle also highlighted serious infrastructure challenges at the station, noting that it lacked adequate office space, including separate rooms where victims, particularly survivors of sexual offences, can report crimes in a safe and private environment.
Meanwhile, Minister of Gender, Youth and Social Development, Pitso Lesaoana, expressed deep concern over the crime statistics recorded in the district over the past three years.
“The statistics are very alarming. Mokhotlong is among the districts with the highest rates of sexual offences, teenage pregnancies, early child marriages and gender-based violence,” said Mr Lesaoana.
He stressed the urgent need for stronger interventions to encourage communities to report cases and for authorities to develop more effective strategies to address the crimes.
Mr Lesaoana also raised concern about cultural practices that sometimes worsen the situation.
“In some cases, when parents discover that their daughters are pregnant, they force them into marriage instead of reporting the matter to the authorities,” he said.
The minister said the government and its partners remained committed to working together to curb the growing levels of crime in the district.
“We are here as partners, and we are willing to collaborate with other institutions to ensure that these crimes are reduced and that communities are protected,” he said.
UNFPA Country Representative, John Kennedy Mosoti, emphasised the importance of conducting a comprehensive survey to better understand the scale of the problem.
“We need a comprehensive survey to accurately determine the extent of these challenges,” Mr Mosoti said.
“Reliable data is essential for strengthening prevention strategies, guiding policy decisions and ensuring that survivors receive effective support services.”
Meanwhile, Vodacom Lesotho Executive Head of External Affairs, Regulatory and Legal, Tšepo Ntaopane, announced plans to develop a digital solution to support law enforcement.
“We will develop an application that will allow the police to access data from Youth Corners and hospitals, particularly in cases that are not reported to them,” said Mr Ntaopane.
He said the initiative would help authorities identify hidden cases and improve responses to crimes affecting young people.
“The current statistics are not satisfactory, especially considering the number of children who have been seen pregnant at Youth Corners,” he added.