MASERU — A couple from Sehlabeng in Berea district appeared in the magistrate’s court on Monday to face charges of assaulting their neighbour.
Motlalepula Leqala and his wife ‘Makamohelo Leqala are accused of assaulting Bonang Mokotjo, their neighbour, on March 25 this year. The couple however pleaded “not guilty” before Magistrate ‘Manapo Motebele. During cross-examination by prosecutor Thabang Motsamai, ‘Makamohelo told the court it was Mokotjo who came to start a fight at their home. She said on that day her husband was sweeping the forecourt preparing to feed his sheep when Mokotjo passed through on his way to his home. ‘Makamohelo claimed she then heard Mokotjo telling her husband to “stop sweeping the yard because he is not a woman”. She said Mokotjo then invited her husband for a fight. “I then told my husband to come back into the house so that if Mokotjo really wanted to fight he would follow him.” ‘Makamohelo said when her husband was in the house Mokotjo kicked their door open and punched him in the face. The two men then wrestled until they were in the forecourt, ‘Makamohelo said. “I went into the house and fetched a lebetlela (wooden stick) and hit the complainant on the legs.” According to ‘Makamohelo, Mokotjo then went back to his house and he heard him telling his wife “to come and see what the devils have done” to him. When he came back the fight continued. By this time, ‘Makamohelo said, the two were near the kraal. She claimed that Mokotjo’s wife only arrived when the men had stopped fighting. When the prosecutor put it to her that she had been wrong to join in the fight ‘Makamohelo agreed but insisted she could not just stand passively while Mokotjo assaulted them. “I could not just stand passively when we were being assaulted by the complainant at our homestead,” ‘Makamohelo said. Motlalepula told the court he was the one who asked his wife to bring a stick after he asked her to help fight Mokotjo. Motlalepula denied the prosecution’s allegation that he is the one who started the fight.
He said it was Mokotjo who invited him to a fight when he was preparing to feed his sheep. The case was postponed to tomorrow to enable the couple to bring their witnesses.
