Mephato: Govt puts foot down

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Thursday January 28, 2010 00:00

At a meeting between the Defence, Justice and Security minister Ramadeluka Seretse and Bakgatla chief, Kgosi Kgafela II, he said that the mephato were doing a good job in fighting crime and other social vices but, 'all measures taken should be in full compliance with the law., and in line with the press statement issued by the Attorney General'. 

In a statement, issued by his office as a sequel to the two leaders' meeting, Minister Seretse says that individuals who may be aggrieved by the application of such measures have an unfettered right to file complaints with relevant authorities. The minister is reported to have informed Kgosi Kgafela that the police are currently investigating some reports that Madisankwe members flogged some tribesmen and women. Since last year there have been reports that members of the regiment had become a law  unto themselves, flogging people without following  due process of the law where one has to be charged, tried and sentenced in a court of law or Kgotla. The minister is said to have asked Kgosi Kgafela to address Bakgatla and mephato in Kgatleng District to clarify his instructions on what should and should not be done by regiments or mephato.

The meeting coincided with a press release by Attorney General Athaliah Molokomme, warning of serious consequences. 'The flogging or caning of people without their consent, outside the foregoing legal framework, is illegal and offenders can be charged with criminal offences for assault and other offences, as well as being sued in civil proceedings,' she said. In an interview, Kgosi Kgafela confirmed to Mmegi that he met with the minister where he briefed him on the goings-on in the district.  Kgosi Kgafela has said that since his installation, he had consultations with Bakgatla and agreed on some measures that should be implemented to address morafe's concerns on indiscipline and general lawlessness in Kgatleng. It is these measures, as agreed with morafe, that mephato were deployed to implement.

Kgosi Kgafela assured the minister that his instructions to mephato were that these measures should be implemented in conformity with the law. 'Government supports us  in the use of mephato as we help in fighting crime.  I have called a meting for Bakgatla on February  6 where we will discuss all these issues. I also invited journalists so that they can come and get the facts at our Kgotla meeting in Mochudi,' he said.