Charges Dropped As Kgoroba, Molatlhegi Reconcile
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday November 13, 2017 16:56
On July 12, 2016 Kgoroba threw a 500ml water bottle in Parliament that hit Molatlhegi during a heated debate between members of the ruling party and opposition. Kgoroba was later summoned to the court to answer to charges of common assault after Molatlhegi reported the incident to the police.
On Thursday, the Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Kokorwe read Kgoroba’s apology in Parliament in his absence.
“I wish to apologise for an incident that happened in 2016 in which the Deputy Speaker Kagiso Molatlhegi was a victim.
I do hereby promise that I will never again conduct myself in that manner,” read part of his written apology.
However, Kgoroba arrived a few minutes later after the apology was read. Kgoroba’s common assault case was set for November 10, 2017 and it was expected that the state would drop the charges after the parties reconciled.
Kgoroba told The Monitor briefly after his apology was read that Molatlhegi agreed to drop the charges following discussions between him and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“The reason why I arrived late in Parliament is that we are just from our meeting at the DPP where we held the reconciliation discussions. One of the conditions put up was that I should apologise to Molatlhegi, so I had to rush to write the apology and give to the Speaker.
Then had to go have my lunch before coming to Parliament.
I am happy that the issue has been closed. The charges will be dropped by the court tomorrow (Friday),” he said.
Although Kgoroba has explained that the bottle was not meant for Molatlhegi, but Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Shaw Kgathi, the incident evoked jabs from the ruling party MPs for a couple of months.
Both the Speaker and Vice President and Leader of the House, Mokgweetsi Masisi condemned the incident.
The ruling party MPs also accused opposition members for what they said were growing incidents of unruly behaviour in the House. The Speaker would later intensify security in Parliament.