The Home of Good Hope Foundation led a demonstration from Black Chain shopping mall to the Katutura Magistrate's Court to express frustration over rape offenders being granted bail and roaming the same streets on which their victims live.

The demonstrators say that rape suspects should remain in police custody and not be allowed to return to their communities, emphasising that there is no place for them in society.

They claim that they had reported over four cases of rape over the past three years, and all the suspects are currently out on bail, which is allegedly a testament to the system failing them.

They demanded that bail granted to rape accused be withdrawn, as most of them are allegedly repeat offenders and pose a threat to women and children in their communities, whom they say are living in fear.

"We are disappointed, and we have come to register our disappointment in the system. We are here to register our disappointment in parents who protect their family names and protect these perpetrators. We hope this time our cries will be heard and our demands will be taken seriously. There is no place for rapists and rape culture in our society," said Monica Imanda, the founder of the Home of Good Hope.

The demonstrators demand that more mobile police stations be set up in their community and that more street lights be installed to improve safety and not allow criminals to commit these heinous crimes under the cover of darkness.

The demonstrators also urged the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare to organise more awareness campaigns aimed at educating youths on how, when, and where to seek help if they become victims of such crimes.

The petition was received by the Head of Operations of Nampol, Deputy Commissioner Gerald Klazen, on behalf of the Police.

Director of Policy Planning and Research at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Wilbard Nashandi, also received the petition on behalf of the ministry.

No one was present to receive the petition on behalf of the Katutura Magistrate's Court.

The petitions will be handed to the relevant authorities, where they will be processed before feedback is given.