21 Aug 2025

Residents of Sedibeng and Phitshane Molopo have urged their area MP, Dr Edwin Dikoloti to advocate for the review of section 37 of the customary law.

Residents argued that under that section, perpetrators were free to demand where they could be tried, noting culprits always demanded to be taken to court. They gave example of stock theft cases, which took long for culprits to be convicted. Residents claimed, in kgotla meetings recently, that in the process, culprits ended up being given bail and continued reigning terror in the community.

In his welcoming remarks, Kgosi Brown Keogotsitse  of Sedibeng reiterated lamentations of Phitshane Molopo residents that time was now for government to review the act. He asserted that if left unchecked, perpetrators would continue with their bad deeds as the laws seemed to be giving them preference over victims.

Responding to resident’s grievances, Dr Dikoloti who is also the acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, said he would consult with relevant authorities and present the issue to them for consideration. He also said that he was worried about the escalating number of stock theft cases because they impoverish Batswana.

Earlier, Kgosi Keogotsitse also told the MP that they needed staff houses for nurses in their village. He pointed out that without proper accommodation, civil servants were not able to deliver to the best of their ability. ENDS