Beaten worshippers report to police

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Wednesday April 21, 2010 00:00

Maboka says they are still investigating the case.In January, the Attorney General, Athaliah Molokomme, issued a press release regarding what she considered to have been illegal application of corporal punishment in Mochudi.  In her statement, Molokomme stated the circumstances under which corporal punishment can be meted out.

She said corporal punishment should only be applied on people who are 40 years-old or younger. It has to be administered on the buttocks only and not on the back. It is only applied to males. 

Molokomme said people who are to be subjected to that type of punishment have to be examined by a medical doctor before it is applied. 

However, in Kgatleng the authorities apply corporal punishment indiscriminately even to people who are aged over 40 years.  They also flog people on the back and in the past even females were given their share of the rod.

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Ndelu Seretse, has held a meeting with Kgafela about the issue of corporal punishment in Kgatleng. 

But at a subsequent Kgotla meeting that Kgafela held in Mochudi this year, his subjects approved the application of corporal punishment on unruly elements. The issue of corporal punishment in Kgatleng came under the spotlight following the public flogging of members of a Mochudi drama group.  The actors were flogged after they were accused of singing Bakgatla initiation songs.

Another flogging that caused public outcry was that of a 56 year-old Kgatla tribesman, Tselapedi Mooketsi, last year.  Mooketsi said Kgafela's younger brother, Mmusi ordered him flogged.

Mmusi accused Mooketsi of stealing his bridles. Mmusi also accused Mooketsi of failing to turn up when he was summoned to the Kgosi's home.

During the festive season, some Bakgatla were flogged after they were found drinking Chibuku in the morning.One of the chief's relatives who is always mentioned when people are flogged is Kgosi Sekai. 

A Mochudi resident said Sekai once stepped on his head as he was flogging him.  The young man was accused of being disrespectful to his elders at home.

Since he took over as chief, Kgafela, a former human rights lawyer, called for the application of corporal punishment to create order. He has gone on record as saying that he will ban traditional brews in Kgatleng, including Chibuku.  He has also set the times during which shebeens are permitted to operate. 

More recently, he banned the Family of Christ Church from operating in Kgatleng. Although he seems to be against alcohol abuse, the Kgosikgolo has not been as emphatic about the use of the habit-forming leaf commonly known as motekwane or dagga.

There was no response to enquiries at the Kgatleng Tribal Administration office and the Attorney General's chambers. Meanwhile, the police chief, Maboka said his men have finalised investigations into the other cases in which members of the public reported that they were flogged.