'We Whipped Them, They Discrepect Kgatla Law'

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Monday April 19, 2010 00:00

Bogopa Linchwe, personal assistant to Kgosi Kgafela II, and also a member of the Thukwi regiment, told The Monitor that he led the regiment of six men to the Church of God which had a week-long crusade at Segale School a fortnight ago.

Linchwe said the whipping of the two followed three nights of mophato visits which bore no results until the regiment decided to discipline the church elders.

The church elders came from Francistown and Tonota, The Monitor has learnt.

Linchwe said before the church elders were finally flogged, he advised the church to go and seek a permit for hosting a crusade at the district council where they would also read regulations regarding how they are expected to conduct their affairs in Kgatleng.

After assuring him that they got a council permit, Linchwe said it turned out that the church pastors had lied to him.

Linchwe also claims that when his party demanded to confiscate the noisy music system, they were confronted by the church elders who bragged about the law, while some of them surrounded the Bakgatla regiment of six as if they wanted to beat them up.

'They were very rude to say the least. One of them denied us entry into the church. They boasted that only the police commissioner could confiscate the sound system. They even demanded IDs from us; of course we complied. I showed them I am the personal assistant to the Kgosi-kgolo and I have come to take the music system. When I demanded to be shown the permit, they had none,' Linchwe told The Monitor.

'But they continued to boast that they have all the freedom. What was even more disturbing to us was that here were now two unfamiliar men calling themselves pastors while the other pastors we have been dealing with throughout the week were nowhere to be seen,' said Linchwe.

'I called other tribe elders to the scene, and the two pastors were given two lashes each. I also advised them that they are free to appeal to the Kgotla on Monday (last week). But since last week they told us that they will let their bishop know about what transpired.'We have been in touch with the bishop and he says he will send a delegation'.