Traditional apology practices are failing to address repeat offending in communities in Ba, with concerns that perpetrators are not being deterred from committing further offences.

President of DCOSS Ba, Rosivela Nadibi said communities often struggle to take cases to court because victims and perpetrators are usually related, leaving families to consider traditional apologies as an alternative way of resolving offences.

Nadibi said while traditional apologies may help restore relationships, they do not necessarily result in behavioural change or prevent offenders from repeating the same actions.

He said theft remains one of the most common offences in the district, with livestock and household items among the property frequently stolen within communities.

Radibi explained that an increase in theft linked to people trying to fund drug use is another concern, while cases of HIV are also among the challenges communities face on a daily basis.

She emphasized that issues require stronger support and coordinated efforts from families, churches, communities and relevant authorities to address the underlying problems and prevent further offending.

Representative of Ba DCOSS and Lay Minister, Akisi Lewavo, said the church continues to play a role in addressing social issues and guiding offenders, but there are still gaps that need to be addressed.

Lewavo said these gaps make it difficult to effectively deal with some of the issues affecting communities and ensure lasting behavioural change.

While traditional apologies may restore relationships, communities are now questioning whether saying sorry without accountability is enough to stop the same offences from happening again.

By: Litia Rabua