Church broke the law

| Friday April 23, 2010 00:00

I would like firstly to commend the editor for the respectful choice of words and approach in the opinion and assure him that our Kgosi, and indeed, his Morafe and Mophato treat opinions expressed in papers as advise (good or bad), which serves to strengthen our kgosi and his morafe and teach us how to improve our ways. Whilst such advise is always welcome when given with respect and lack of bias, we who live in Kgatleng must always remind the readers and opinion-makers that the picture, on the basis of which opinions are made is often, if not always, completely different on the ground.  What the editor and reader must understand is that dikgosi do not lead or take decisions to impress anybody or to attract love or to look good in any set of circumstances. This is one feature that distinguishes them from politicians. They are accountable all their lives for the good and bad decisions they take and in the end, there is a far deeply spiritual purpose behind every decision, even the ones that may on the surface appear bad. On a daily basis our kgosi is confronted with challenges from all over, which must be addressed spot on the ground. Some of these challenges obviously are reported whilst some are not. In respect of churches, for example, it is never reported that a priest was flogged by mophato recently for poisoning his congregation with homemade alcoholic beverage called thabura. His curch was shutdown by kgosi. Over the Easter holiday, a priest caused the death of an individual during baptism. There are all these churches mushrooming around us with auckward beliefs . Kgosi has the challenge to protect his people from these churches . Of late some of these churches have seen themselves immune from the law that protects the public in the enjoyment of their human rights to enjoy the peace and tranquility of one's environment. There are written laws against noise to ensure enjoyment of this right. The family of God church broke the law and persisted in doing so for three nights in a row despite being cautioned by the community that it should respect the rights of others. They were flogged for persisting in their disrespect of the rights of others. So yes, kgosi must respect human rights (which he surely does without doubt), but the church must do likewise and lead spiritually by example.  Other churches in Mochudi are respectful and none of their members have attracted the shame of being flogged.  It must be known also that prior to the flogging kgosi invited the church to the kgotla to talk, but the church refused to attend without valid reason but pure arrogance. Our kgosi awaits them to attend and talk. 

It  is correct that faults may be committed by mophato like they naturally do with any institution carrying the responsibility of bringing about order. The police and army make error and kill or erroneously imprison people, but that does not render them hooligans. I believe sir that you need to identify and know someone before you may label them a hooligan. Surely you will be upset if we were to say your reporters are idiots whenever they report facts incorrectly or in a manner we do not agree with .

That is disrespectful sir of an institution (mophato) agreed upon by an entire community of intelligent people, some of them old enough to be your grandparents. It is an institution approved by government at all levels and has made the police work 10 times easier. Finally, we must reiterate the words of minister of justice, and kgosi kgafela, that anybody who believes his rights have been violated is free to seek recourse in accordance with the law. Family of God church are best advised to seek peace with the community if they are truly people of God.

Molefe SeiteiBy E-mail