Gun-wielding father convicted following rage incident
Lebogang Baingapi | Wednesday July 26, 2017 18:00
Botsang Bareki was convicted of showing up at the school angry, ready to avenge his child’s injuries they suffered at the hands of other pupils.
Armed with a short gun at the school without any lawful excuse, Bareki caused terror to the school’s deputy head, David Bapindi.
He did not waste the court’s time when he readily pleaded guilty to the offence after charges were read out to him.
According to the facts of the matter on July 7, a furious Bareki went armed in public to Tatisiding Primary School after he discovered that other students had injured his child on the head.
After the overprotective father arrived at the school, he went to the staffroom asking for the school’s head teacher.
“He was directed to the office of the deputy school head, whereupon he entered the office carrying the short gun.
He was looking furious. He then questioned the deputy school head how his child became injured. Bapindi tried to calm Bareki down,” according to the facts.
Bapindi, fearing for his life, the facts note, called for his colleague, Mbatshi Malibamba to assist him as well as the security guard.
“They tried to talk to Bareki and begged him to put away his short gun.
The accused finally gave in and called his son to put away the short gun in his car. The matter was then reported to the police, who later arrested the accused,” stated the facts.
Subsequent to admitting to the facts, inspector Kelebonye Matsapa told the court that Bareki was a first offender.
Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Ishmael Molobe ordered that the licensed short gun that the accused possessed in public should be forfeited to the state. “In addition, the accused who is now a convict shall pay P1,000 failing which he shall spend six months in jail.
He is advised of his right to appeal this ruling at the High Court within 14 days,” Molobe said.