When love hurts
Sharon Mathala - Larona Makhaiza | Monday September 22, 2025 08:46
Keipile Stoffel (35), the man at the centre of a viral video in which he is captured assaulting Pearl Montsho (27) in front of minors, stood before the Magistrate facing charges that many expected would set an example for perpetrators of Gender Based Violence (GBV).
The accused, a prosecutor from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), also faces another count for ill treatment of children. Yet, in an unexpected twist, Montsho denounced the violence inflicted on her and refused to testify against her lover. The Magistrate, after weighing the testimony and evidence, eventually granted Stoffel bail, but the conditions were that Montsho was to be taken to a safer home and be shielded from meeting with the latter.
It was an order designed to protect her from the very man she defended. When the decision was read, the two could not conceal their joy. Cameras caught them smiling broadly, and indeed, when the court was adjourned, the two lovers talked, a stark contrast to how they were first introduced to the country in the viral video.
Delivering the bail ruling on Thursday, Magistrate Mareledi Dipate granted Stoffel bail with conditions that he ought to abide by. “The court has established that the state failed to show cause why the accused should not be granted bail. The accused is the right candidate for bail, and he is therefore granted bail,” he ordered.
Moreover, the Magistrate stated, “The court finds it necessary that the complainant gets assessed to establish if she is indeed emotionally stable and she should vacate the house accompanied by police officers to a safe place where they will provide psychosocial support'.
On social media, public outrage erupted. Many stated that the scene was not an embrace of love, but of tragedy waiting to happen. “He will eventually kill her,” some warned, recalling similar cases where women had defended their abusers only to later suffer deadly consequences.
Others argued Montsho is a victim of manipulation, her testimony a product of psychological control rather than free will. Whatever the truth, their “love story” has sparked a nationwide debate about GBV and its complexities.
For activists, the saga is like a script straight from a tragic play. It is a story of obsession glossed in youthful romance, where the need to belong often overshadows the need for safety.
The love story that has captured headlines has also raised a broader national crisis that has gripped the nation. Indeed, during the official opening of the legal year, Chief Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe did not mince words; he stated that the issue of GBV requires urgent attention. “In my consultations with the Commissioner of Police and magistrates, we realised there may be a need to standardise how the procedures and processes in handling GBV and other domestic violence cases are done. This will require training, upskilling, and retooling of magistrates' soft skills in handling such cases. This is a matter needing urgent attention in the short term .
The Chief Justice’s words could not have been more timely. Montsho and Stoffel’s incident is not an isolated case; it is a recurring societal pattern where victims find themselves entangled in webs of loyalty and manipulation.
Activists in GBV have commented on the psychological complexities of such cases, where victims often internalise abuse, convinced that loyalty or forgiveness will mend what is broken. The couple’s court appearance was proof of love’s irrational hold, whilst to others it was a picture of impending doom for the pair, whilst for Montsho, the courtroom became a stage where she chose love over justice.
The question that remains is, Montsho making her own choices, however misguided? Or is she a victim of manipulation too deep for her to see? Should the State intervene more aggressively, even against the wishes of victims? Or should individual autonomy prevail, even when the risk is catastrophic? History dictates that when love runs into violence, the consequences are between life and death.
Following the delivery of ruling, the case continues on October 20.