05 Nov 2015

Kgosi Oateng Setlhodi of Chanoga has appealed to the government to re-visit the closing period of civil cases conducted in the customary courts as it compromises justice.

In an interview, he observed that normally conducting such cases stops beginning of September until March the following year to pave way for ploughing season.

 He said the period is too long and compromises justice adding that at times they conduct cases without evidence citing example about the damages caused by livestock in the ploughing fields.

Kgosi Setlhodi wished the government could give dikgosi an opportunity to conduct civil cases just like criminal cases adding that would also benefit the community at large as they would report cases and get  justice on time.

He said they receive a lot of civil cases on a daily basis especially during the ploughing seasons and there is nothing they could do until the cases are open in March the following year.

“The longer the period the more it compromises justice and this could lead to unfair judgment because there would be no evidence. It really gives us hard time and I wish the cases could be conducted throughout so that people get their dues on time,” he added.

On other issues, Kgosi Setlhodi decried lack of transport to execute his duties diligently. He noted that since Chanoga kgotla was established, they had been operating without a vehicle.

He said efforts were made several times to write letters to the tribal secretary to address the issue but did not bear any fruit as they were told that financial constraint was a hindrance.

He revealed that despite the challenge, he had been striving hard to serve his community as expected as most of the time he uses his personal car to execute his duties.

Kgosi Setlhodi said all the cases are conducted on time adding that at the moment there are no pending cases. Ends