How Batswana respected botsetsi
Friday, November 16, 2012
After a baby is born traditionally the mother and her baby go into semi-compulsory confinement for a certain period of time - ranging from one month to six months.This process commonly called botsetsi used to be respected by both the young and old until modernity was either used as an excuse or the dawn of the new era made change inevitable.
The traditional botsetsi would have its strict rules and regulations and batsetsi would not dare disrespect them.For instance, it was taboo for the father of the new born to see the baby before a certain period after birth and when the time arrived for dad to make contact with his spouse, certain rituals had to performed before he could be allowed any closer to the motsetsi.
A young man suspected of breaking into a car was seized by residents, severely assaulted, and died in the hospital within an hour. We unreservedly condemn this mob justice. It is not a solution to crime, but a criminal offence that turns citizens into murderers.Residents are understandably angry about theft. The person who raised the alarm at 4am acted lawfully, and the neighbours who rushed to help showed community spirit. But what followed was...