…as revenge killing over initiation school feud lands man 25 years behind bars
Moorosi Tsiane
HIGH Court judge, Justice Mabatšoeneng Hlaele, has strongly condemned what she described as “lebollo gangsterism”, warning that criminal factions linked to initiation school rivalries are tarnishing the sacred Basotho cultural practice.
Lebollo is an initiation process whereby men go to the mountain to be taught how men should behave and culture.
Justice Hlaele made the remarks yesterday while sentencing Roma resident Motsie Mochesane of Tloutle to 25 years imprisonment for the brutal 2020 murder of Moloja Mabokoane — a killing rooted in a long-standing grudge stemming from an initiation school stick-fighting dispute.
Mochesane was convicted alongside Tšepo Tabola, who received a six-year prison sentence for his role in the attack.
The court heard that on February 24, 2020, the pair attacked Mabokoane with a knife and an axe, inflicting multiple fatal wounds.
Evidence before the court showed that the murder stemmed from a 2018 incident in which Mabokoane allegedly shot Mr Mochesane in the stomach during an initiation school stick-fighting event that descended into violence and required police intervention with tear gas.
Delivering sentence, Justice Hlaele said the case exposed disturbing levels of factionalism and criminality associated with some initiation school groupings.
“From the facts before me, it transpired that this case has the footprint of local lebollo gangsterism or factionalism,” Justice Hlaele said.
“I must state categorically that this court respects lebollo and its associated practices. However, some people have turned this sacred institution into a business enterprise, the consequences of which include gangs formed by some graduates who later commit crimes.”
The judge said what should ordinarily have been a harmless stick-fighting game escalated into violence that left deep emotional and physical scars.
She noted that Mochesane had told the court there was bad blood between him and Mr Mabokoane after the latter shot him during the 2018 altercation.
“Matters worsened when compensation of two cows was rejected by the deceased’s family. That rejection appears to have left the accused carrying emotional, psychological and physical wounds,” she said.
“The first reaction Mochesane had when asked why he committed the offence was to show his cousin the scars on his stomach caused by the deceased. This demonstrated the pain, revenge and bitterness he carried.”
Justice Hlaele said the use of initiation names and codes by the accused pointed to factional behaviour linked to initiation school groupings.
“When the accused introduced themselves at the field using code names associated with lebollo, it reinforced the theory of lebollo factionalism,” she said.
“The court cannot condone conduct that creates the impression that initiation schools produce gangsters and thugs.”
She stressed that initiation schools were meant to mould boys into responsible men, not criminals.
“Lebollo is a rite of passage that teaches responsibility and manhood. Bravery and manhood should never translate into the commission of repulsive crimes,” she said.
Justice Hlaele further described the murder as exceptionally brutal, saying the postmortem report reflected the anger and vengeance with which the attack was carried out.
“The wounds revealed by the postmortem expose the hideousness of this crime. Every wound reflected the anger and revenge motive carried by Mochesane,” she said.
“The court cannot turn a blind eye to such atrocities.”
While describing Mochesane as the main aggressor, Justice Hlaele said Tabola had wrongly allowed himself to be drawn into a dispute that did not concern him.
“Looking at Tabola, he strikes the court as one of those people who are easily bullied and who lack backbone. He involved himself in a crime that had nothing to do with him,” she said.
“All in all, the court views these men as individuals who failed society and the lessons they were supposed to learn from initiation school.”
Justice Hlaele also lamented the growing culture of revenge killings in Lesotho, warning that citizens cannot take the law into their own hands.
“Lesotho is riddled with gruesome murders committed in broad daylight by individuals seeking revenge instead of state intervention,” she said.
“No amount of self-help can ever be acceptable in a constitutional democracy. The courts remain society’s hope in the fight against crime.”
She then sentenced Mochesane to 25 years imprisonment as the main perpetrator, while Tabola received six years for actively associating himself with the killing.
“Having stated the above, we sentence you to the following: Mochesane, you are sentenced to 25 years in prison for you are the main perpetrator in this crime. Tabola, you are sentenced to six years imprisonment for actively associating yourself with the commission of this crime. My assessors agree with me in this sentence,” Justice Hlaele said.
The two accused were convicted last Thursday, with sentencing delivered yesterday.
