Delivering judgment recently, Magistrate Gofaone Mosweu ordered that Maphogo be caned at a customary court and further directed that he compensated the complainant for property destroyed in the fire.

Court records indicated that on July 13, 2022, at Bokamoso Ward in Bodibeng, Maphogo unlawfully set fire to a structure belonging to Mr Johannes Kangora after a dispute over unpaid wages amounting to P1 600 for work allegedly done at a cattle post.

During previous proceedings, Maphogo pleaded guilty to the charge, stating that he committed the offence out of frustration after Mr Kangora failed to pay him.

In the blaze, several items were destroyed, including a tent valued at P3,800, four blankets worth P300 each, a jacket valued at P300, food estimated at P800, two axes worth P300 each, a net shade valued at P100, a pair of shoes worth P400, four shovels valued at P120 each, two mattresses worth P200 each, P20,000 as well as a livestock certificate and a national identity card.

Magistrate Mosweu ruled that Maphogo must reimburse Mr Kangora for the value of the destroyed items and further stated that the alleged P1 600 debt would not be considered in the compensation order.

“The P20,000 that is said to have been destroyed in the fire has not been satisfactorily proven before court and will therefore not form part of the compensation,” she said.

The court noted that the value of the damaged property exceeded the amount Maphogo claimed he was owed hence he would not get any compensation.

Maphogo would undergo corporal punishment in accordance with customary court procedures. ENDS