Over 1300 abuse cases between April, June

NHLANGANO – A report from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office reflects 1 340 cases of abuse spanning April to June 2026 across the country’s four regions.

The figures are contained in the DPM’s Office First Quarter Budget Performance Report for the 2026/27 financial year from April to June 2026.

The document notes that the figures were compiled through assessments by social welfare officers in collaboration with community partners, whistle-blowers and members of the public.

The quarterly report reveals that of the 1 340 abuse cases reported during the three-month period, neglect was identified as the most common form of mistreatment, accounting for 604 cases, while the total figure also includes 282 emotional abuse cases, 249 financial abuse cases, 136 sexual abuse cases and 69 physical abuse cases.

Statistical data in the report highlights that a regional analysis shows that the Manzini Region recorded the highest volume of abuse with 487 cases, followed by Lubombo with 355 cases, Shiselweni with 259 cases and Hhohho with 239 cases.

The findings outline how the regional distribution of these offences details distinct local trends across the country, showing that the Lubombo Region registered 171 cases of neglect, 97 of financial abuse, 51 of emotional abuse, 23 of physical abuse and 13 of sexual abuse, bringing the regional total to 355 cases.

Welfare officers established that the Manzini Region recorded 148 cases of emotional abuse, 140 of neglect, 119 of financial abuse, 75 of sexual abuse and five of physical abuse, which amounted to 487 cases.

Case records specify that officers in Shiselweni documented 211 cases of neglect, 20 of emotional abuse, 13 of physical abuse, 10 of sexual abuse and five of financial abuse, making a total of 259 cases.

The breakdown further shows that the Hhohho Region logged 82 cases of neglect, 63 of emotional abuse, 38 of sexual abuse, 28 of physical abuse and 28 of financial abuse, culminating in 239 cases.

Social welfare assessments identified the main drivers behind these rising numbers as the disruption of traditional family structures, unemployment, mental health challenges and widespread substance abuse, prompting the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, alongside its strategic partners, to continue running public awareness campaigns to combat gender-based violence.

The official records indicate that of the 1 340 initially reported cases, social welfare officers successfully validated 1 332 cases, while eight were flagged as invalid, leaving 934 cases successfully closed and 398 under active follow-up.

A closer look at the case cascade confirms that in the Lubombo Region, all 355 reported cases were validated, with 62 receiving follow-ups and 293 being closed.

The data illustrates that in the Hhohho Region, all 239 reported cases were validated, with 74 undergoing follow-ups and 165 being closed.

Government statistics show that the Manzini Region saw all 487 reported cases validated, with 187 receiving follow-ups and 300 successfully closed.

Welfare division archives state that in Shiselweni, out of the 259 reported cases, 251 were validated while eight were found to be invalid, leaving 75 cases under follow-up and 176 closed.

The report emphasises that females bear the brunt of domestic and societal abuse, accounting for 756 of the validated cases compared to 576 cases involving males, with young women aged between 15 and 17 representing the single most vulnerable demographic, where neglect was the most reported issue.

The investigation discovered that this infant demographic suffered 115 neglect cases, with 57 involving males and 58 involving females, alongside nine financial abuse cases affecting four males and five females and one physical abuse case involving a male.

 Overall gender figures confirm that across all age groups, males suffered 282 cases of neglect, 135 of emotional abuse, 95 of financial abuse, 39 of sexual abuse, and 25 of physical abuse, while females suffered 322 cases of neglect, 154 of financial abuse, 147 of emotional abuse, 97 of sexual abuse and 44 of physical abuse.

To combat the psychological toll of these statistics, the report mentions that the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office provided counselling and guidance services to 751 clients of all ages, of which 577 cases were successfully resolved, while 174 remain ongoing.

Welfare administrators noted that these therapeutic interventions targeted a broad range of issues, including marital and family disputes, school and career guidance, nutritional struggles, disability counselling, rehabilitation, mental health support, and specialised psychosocial support linked to clinical care for victims of gender-based violence.

 For the most extreme cases involving children in immediate danger, the report highlights that the office intervened to rescue 26 children in need of urgent care and protection who had suffered abandonment, severe neglect, or baby dumping, placing them in various residential child care facilities and places of safety, while also successfully reintegrating seven children with their families during the quarter.

 Overall Caseload and Resolutions

Regional Performance and Case Cascades