Councillor beaten up in Matsha quarrel
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday November 17, 2015 07:29
The BDP man, Botokanyana Motoroko, allegedly beat up Molatedi Selala, first with a headbutt and then a fist above the left eye, during a tea break immediately after the special council called by chair, Jeffrey Sibisibi.
The incident happened after opposition members, led by Selala, blocked a motion from Motoroko who wanted to prevent debate on Sibisibi’s speech on the Matsha College truck disaster, in which seven students died on Friday. During the ensuing debate, Motoroko repeatedly interrupted Selala when the latter commented on Sibisibi’s speech. At some point the UDC councillor asked the chairman to intervene to which Motoroko responded saying Selala had used insults.
As councillors filed out after the meeting to a room where tea was waiting for them, Motoroko was seen accosting and beating up Selala as the UDC man attempted to prepare his coffee.
Selala moved to retaliate, but was blocked by other councillors. The incident left the UDC man with blood streaming from his face, tea and blood on the floor and bystanders stunned.
Motoroko was not done however.
“Ke santse ke tsile go go betsa, e ntwa ga e a hela. Bua jaaka one o bua mo full council. O kana ka ngwanake wa bobedi. Ga kena sepe le ha ma councillor a ka bitsa mapodise ke tla duela P50,” Motoroko said at the scene of the incident.
Selala however also challenged the BDP man to a fight.
“Bona, ga ke go tshabe. Re ka nna ra lwa, ako le motogeleng,” Selala said.
BDP councillors also blocked opposition councillors who wanted to hit Motoroko.
Yesterday afternoon, assistant superintendent Gontse Segale of Molepolole Police Station confirmed that a case of assault had been opened against Motoroko.
“We didn’t hold him in a cell but he is facing a single count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. We took the complainant to hospital and he was treated and discharged for the injuries he sustained,” Segale said.