02 Mar 2022

Recognition of cohabitation can help prevent passion killings that have plagued throughout the country for many years

Lotlhakane East resident Ms Amogelang Kewagamang said this during a consultative meeting addressed by the Presidential Commission of Enquiry into Review of the constitution in Lotlhakane East yesterday.

Ms Kewagamang said history had proved many times that many of the crimes were committed by aggrieved parties who felt used when relationships ended. 

“Aggrieved parties feel used because there is no equitable distribution of assets accumulated throughout the entire the relationship. Usually, these people are left in the lurch with nothing to their names although they had toiled to amass assets and wealth,” she said.

She suggested therefore, that the supreme law of the land should recognise co-habitation so that there could be fair division of d property.

Mr Mosimanewatlala Toesane said the law should prohibit the current arrangement where couples were at liberty to marry without family blessings as long as they were deemed to be of age.

He said family support structures remained the mainstay for the harmonious existence of any marriage.

Another resident, Mr Odirileng Patle who called for the introduction of proportional representation electoral system argued counting of ballot papers for members of parliament should take place at polling stations.

The status-quo where the exercise was conducted at a central location did not augur well for a mature democracy and its integrity, he said.

He contended doing so would expedite counting and announcement of results.

Mr Patle also suggested that the declaration of assets law should be binding to both council and parliamentary candidates.

“Audit on assets of the two should be as a matter of principle be conducted prior to elections and at the end of the tenure of office,” he said adding that doing so would help to root out corruption among politicians.Mr Lekgotla Koboyatshwene’s worry was the ease with which some of traditional doctors practiced. 

 He said whereas the law required one to have a certificate to practice as a medical doctor, the same could not be said of traditional doctors.

“Most of these people do not have the license to operate,” he said  and called for their licensing to protect citizens from fly-by-night medicine men and women.

Mr Segopotso Seitiso submitted that a review of the constitution should be spelt-out in the constitution and be conducted every 10 years.

“Lekoko le le romiwang go sekaseka molao le lone le tshwanetse la tlhophiwa ke palamente eseng Tautona jaaka go diragala monakong e,” he said adding that this would put to rest any suspicions of self-interest on the part of the appointing authority. BOPA