Tribal service the poorer after police merger

DIRANG LEKUNTWANE
Correspondent | Tuesday September 21, 2010 00:00

'We used to have vehicles with which we delivered summons,' he says. 'The court clerks alternated with police officers - even the driver - to deliver summons to suspects.  Kgosi Maherero, who is the Headman of Records at the Mahalapye Kgotla, says the problem is serious and should be treated as a priority. However, government efforts to control alcohol consumption are praiseworthy, he says. 'Since the enforcement of the alcohol restrictions, I don't recall attending to any case relating to alcohol abuse. The new law is being enforced in my community, especially on the youth.'

Kgosi Maherero says he is happy with the way his community is complying with the new alcohol law and regulations, though the regime has impacted negatively on the lives of those who used alcohol to earn a living.

'Residents only say that the law makes their lives a struggle as they used the proceeds to feed their children,' he says.  The government, however, has taken the right decision; it is not suppression of individual rights because the initiative has helped many citizens and even saved their lives.'

Kgosi Maherero says he is also happy with his people's enrollment in programmes like Ipelegeng in order to sustain their lives.

However, he is critical of the new generation of children's rights, which he blames for children's wayward misbehaviour and loss of respect for their parents.

Kgosi Maherero was recently installed to succeed the late kgosi who died after a long illness.  At the Kgotla, he is assisted by Kgosi Frank Tshipe and Kgosi Mphathi Segotsi. Twenty-four headmen of arbitration help in the village.