Rape cases have increased to 262.
This is according to the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) first quarter performance report.
It said in the same period covering April to June last year, there were 244 rape cases, including statutory rape.
This year, same period the cases increased by 18 to 262.
The report stated that the significant increase in rape cases involving survivors between zero to 17 years was attributed to public awareness conducted by the police and the enforcement of Section 70 of the SODV Act, which discourages tibi tendlu.
The public awareness on the law reportedly encouraged more people to report cases. The report further stated that gender-based violence (GBV) cases continued to soar as 1 612 were reported between April and June.
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These figures were recorded against 1 436 cases that were recorded in the same period in 2024. This illustrates an increase of 12 per cent from last year.
The prevalent offence under the GBV umbrella was domestic assault where 1 036 cases were reported against 990 that were reported in the same period last year.
The police noted that perpetrators of GBV were known to the survivors.
“This type of criminality continues to be a challenge and worth noting is that most perpetrators of gender-based violence are vulnerable and known to the survivors.
Cases involving strangers are no longer a threat but it’s relatives. Also, cases of teenager to teenager love relationships are also a thorn and custodians are no longer concealing such conduct,” reads the report in part.
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