09 Feb 2016

It was a face-off between Kootshepile Motsenageng, also known as Berry Heart, and Allen Bekker at the Kasane Magistrate Court in the ongoing trial in which Bekker is charged with a single count of threat to kill.

The two, on Saturday gave different versions of what transpired on April 4 last year that resulted in the matter being taken to court.

The plaintiff, Motsenangeng is quoted in the charge sheet as having said that Bekker threatened to kill in an alleged incident that took place at Thebe Safari Lodge.

With one of her friends who were with her at the time as a witness in the case, Motsenageng narrated how Bekker threw a bottle of liquor to a pillar which was behind them resulting in some of the alcohol spilling on them at Thebe Safari Lodge.

She continued to say that what followed was a confrontation in which Bekker was uncooperative. “We then called the lodge management to submit a complaint against Bekker, who said there was nothing they could do, and upon our second request we were helped by another manager to confront him,” she narrated,.

Motsenangeng added that Bekker also referred to them as “bitches and prostitutes” in a tone she said was filled with fury, anger and hatred, something which she said made her believe that Bekker would continue with his threats.

According to Motsenangeng’s version, one of her friend’s brother approached Bekker to warn him not use such language. “I then called the police who suggested that we all drive to the police station to file our statements,” she said.  At the police station, Motsenangeng said  in the presence of a police officer, she suggested that if Bekker apologised for his behavior then she would not press charges, an offer she said he refused.

Failure to reach a truce saw them proceed to write their statements and go ahead with the charges. As a result of the altercation, Motsenangeng said she was forced to cut her holiday to Kasane short as she feared for her life. 

After Motsenageng and one of her witnesses had shared their testimonies in court, Bekker’s lawyer, Mr Kesegofetse Molosiwa made an application of no case to answer, questioning the credibility of Motsenageng’s witnesses as well as what he felt was insufficient evidence presented before the court. He then requested that his client take the stand and give his version of events alongside two witnesses.

According to Bekker, 37, he was approached by three ladies and one “big” gentleman on the night of April 4 2015 while hanging out with some friends at Thebe Safari lodge.

The four, he said, were aggressive and were accusing him of spilling alcohol on them, which he said he denied. “They were verbally attacking me, and said they would have me expelled out of the country,” he said, adding that the group also demanded P500 from him, which he said he did not know what it was for. He  said Motsenageng and the “big guy” were swearing at him using the f-word, to which he reacted by stepping outside in the parking lot and calling the police.

“If it had not been for the security who was standing between me and the big guy, there would have been a physical altercation,” he told the court. After arriving at the police station, Bekker said they were kept for up to three hours there.

“The police officers were getting fed up so they said they were going to charge both of us with common nuisance, to which Motsenageng refused,” he said. At that point, he said Motsenageng started mentioning that he threatened to kill her. “I believe that she changed to threat to kill as a scapegoat when she realised that we were both going to be charged with common nuisance,” he added. Bekker also claimed that all of Motsenageng’s friends were drunk.

The case continues on March 4 and 5 as two of the accused’s witnesses take the stand. Kasane magistrate Molema Molema is presiding over the case. Ends