Only dikgosi can flog – Kgosi Sekai
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday May 24, 2022 05:54
Botswana Institute for Reintegration and Rehabilitation of Offenders (BIRRO) boot camp at Tlhagale, just near Mosaditshwene made headlines with the chairperson, Mothei Sejakgomo admitting to flogging delinquents at the camp.
Sejakgomo and his team are accused of abuse in administering corporal punishment extremely, as well as verbal abuse amongst others. He has since defended his methods and believes he is rescuing many young people from ending up in prison.
“This is no place for counselling, we put security first before psychology. We differ from others in that we take the child when the parent has allowed us. Some would say we are stepping on their rights. But then one wonders what about the rights of the parents? They stay with their parents but do not respect them. It is our duty to take them and help parents,” he said.
While Sekai said he has visited the boot camp before, he heard no complaints and said it would be unfortunate if they did so.
“I have visited the boot camp while they were still in Bokaa and to this day I have not gotten reports of any wrongdoing. If it is true that they are administering corporal punishment they would be wrong. The law allows only a Kgosi or the parents of the child to flog at a Kgotla. If they (BIRRO) have any interest in flogging, then it can only happen in their eyes, but not administered by them,” he said.
He however said they were as bogosi open to any child or parent who would be willing to report the flogging incidents to them. He further said their doors were open if BIRRO had any intentions of engaging with them.
Sekai was charged alongside Kgosi Kgafela, Mmusi Kgafela, and 14 tribesmen for the illegal floggings of some community members in Mochudi in 2009. They were charged for unlawful flogging of 13 members of the tribe and causing bodily harm.
In September 2013, the then South Regional Magistrate Chris Gabanagae discharged Sekai and 10 other Bakgatla tribesmen. Only Kgosi Kgafela, who had long fled to South Africa, remained charged with the offence.