01 May 2019

Some residents of Majwanaadipitse have accused their village chief, Mr Keogotsitse Setshego of stalling cases reported at his kgotla in the past five years.

Complaining during a kgotla meeting addressed by the Member of Parliament for Serowe North who is also Local Government and Rural Development assistant minister, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse, residents alleged that cases which were reported as back as five years ago had not been positing any progress.

The residents complained that police officers arrested and charged suspects, but the village kgosi responded muddy-mettled.

Leading the pack of complainants was Mr Keikabetswe Keikabetswe who argued that the inaction of the village leader as regards reported cases fuelled wide ranging misconduct in the village.

He feared that the behaviour had the likelihood of trickling down to children and thereby resulting in the community breeding hotheads.

Another resident who reiterated the allegations was Mr Omphile Gabototelwe who said suspects freely roam the village after a day or two following their arrests. To the villagers’ shock, he said  was that suspects were well known in the village and were unpopular with destroying evidence especially as regards stock theft.

Mr Gabototelwe also appealed that government consider scrapping off the use of ear-tags since livestock rustlers easily removed tags and replaced them with theirs.

In response to the accusations leveled against the village chief, Mr Autlwetse requested the village chief Mr Setshego to clear the air.

Kgosi Setshego, while dismissing claims of not holding trials at his kgotla, admitted that he was hamstrung in trying serious criminal cases such as theft, murder and rape. He elucidated that he was once summoned to Serowe where he was instructed against trying the serious crimes.

However, the village tribal leader explained that he tried simple matters such as common nuisance and sentenced those in the wrong to lashing without fail.

Following the chief’s explanation, Mr Autlwetse confirmed to residents that indeed serious crimes such as rape and murder could not be tried at a mediation kgotla like theirs.

Nevertheless, the Serowe North legislator advised kgosi Setshego to address his flaws if by any chance, in his self-assessment, he realised he had weaknesses.

He said that as an assistant minister whose portfolio covered tribal administration, he did not want to return to the village for the sole purpose of addressing the matter. 

In his snap analysis, Mr Autlwetse found that there could be some level of truths in claims by residents and as such urged the kgosi to reflect. ENDS