Son threatens to kill mother for not paying his bogadi
Othusitse Khuwa | Thursday May 4, 2017 09:47
The State alleged that Manake Moffat, 30, threatened to kill his mother, Tshepang Thapelo, by uttering the words to the effect: “You refused to pay lobola (bogadi) for my children, now I am going to kill you so that the children remain where they are staying now” or words to that effect.
Moffat who is employed as a labourer at Builders World in Kasane allegedly uttered the words in Makobo on April 3.
The case however did not proceed for trial yesterday as Inspector Patrick Mapodisi told the Court that Thapelo, 65, and her son had reconciled and she intended to withdraw the matter.
When called to the dock to explain why she was withdrawing the case, Thapelo said her son used rude words towards her, but they had since sat down with other family members to resolve the issue.
“I know the accused because he is my son. He has unconditionally asked for forgiveness and as parents we have resolved to forgive him,” she said.
When withdrawing the charge against Moffat, Magistrate Ishmael Molobe told Moffat to consider himself very lucky.
“Next time it might not be your mother who lays similar charges against you. Threat-to-kill is a very serious offence that may land one in jail for many years. This matter is now withdrawn,” Molobe said .
Statements submitted by Thapelo to the police are that Moffat threatened to kill her in a similar fashion to a notorious case from the region in which last year one Dibebe Ngele allegedly finished off his mother with an axe after tying her to the back of his car and driving at high speed for about a kilometre.
Ngele’s case shocked the nation because it is alleged when he discovered that his mother was still alive, he proceeded to finish her off with an axe before going to Tatitown police to turn himself in.