Knives out for Kgafela

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Wednesday January 6, 2010 00:00

 

This comes in the wake of a story where a tribesman was whipped apparently for drinking alcohol before the time allowed for drinking. In Mochudi, unlike in other parts of the country, alcohol is not supposed to be sold nor drunk before midday. Drinking is supposed to start at ten and go on until the bars close, an order that has been made by the Kgafela-led royal leadership. Those found breaking the law are speedily punished by Bakgatla regiments.

In an interview, Samuel who did not want to give his surname said it was unfair for people to be whipped for drinking in their homes. He said the home place is unlike the streets where drinking should be discouraged as it 'is bad behaviour'.

'But not in my house. No one should tell me what to drink at what time in my house,' he said.

An elderly woman, in her fifties, Keagile Mmaleng said that it is true that alcohol is a nuisance as 'some of them (alcohol drinkers) make a lot of noise whilst we are asleep. It is also good to regulate the times for operating drinking spots. But I have a problem with the whipping of people who drink in their homes. Why should you regulate when people should drink in their own homes? That for me is harassment and should not be allowed at all,' she said.

On the other hand, Kgafela has refuted allegations of whippings of people in their homes. He says he was out of the country over the festive season and when he came back he heard rumours that people had been whipped for drinking at their homes.

'It is not true. The only ones who are being whipped are those found drinking at shebeens before the allowed drinking times,' he said.

Kgafela called for anyone who has been whipped for being punished for drinking at their homes to come and report at the kgotla. He said that if there are people going around beating some in their homes are taking the law into their hands.

'We will deal with those. There are people whom I have sent to go around the village to restore order. They usually go with a headman and someone from the royal house,' he explained.

Kgafela has also explained that at a meeting he called for shebeen owners it was agreed that they should start operating at twelve O'clock midday.

'Initially we (leadership) felt they should open at two but they pleaded that we compromise to twelve and we heeded their call,' he said.