‘Threat-to-kill’ herdman bailed
There is an old English expression that goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me!”
However, for a 59-year-old herdman from Seherelela, although his alleged stone-throwing antics were overlooked, it was his words that got him into trouble.
Having spent two months in jail for allegedly threatening to kill his employer, Raditsebenyana Setumo was granted bail by Molepolole Magistrates Court this week.
He is accused of unleashing a verbal tirade against his boss, Segametsi Moretaka, 62, following an argument on 25 July at Seherelela lands.
“Moson murrskont ke tsile gogo bolaya, mosono murrskont I am going to kill you,” is the alleged statement that landed Setumo in the slammer.
The threat was reportedly made after Moretaka arrived at the cattlepost to find her goats were still inside the kraal and had not been let out for grazing.
Annoyed, she called Setumo, who explained he was in the bush looking for her cattle.
It is believed the trouble started when Moretaka asked her herdman to bring one of the cows for castrating. Apparently unhappy at being bossed around, Setumo told his employer she was arrogant and failing to care for her livestock.
The fuming herdman is said to have chased his boss, throwing stones at her as she fled to a neighbour’s house seeking refuge.
Although he had initially been denied bail after his arrest, it was second time lucky for the aging suspect.
Annoyed at the prosecution’s lack of progress in the two months since Setumo’s arrest, Molepolole Magistrate Rosemary Khuto granted the accused his freedom.
Magistrate Khuto noted that on the two occasions Setumo applied for bail, the DPP prosecutor handling the case had failed to turn up.
“This response raises eyebrows on whether they are ready to prosecute the case. This is further prejudicial on the accused because if they are not ready to prosecute they are pleading on the accused’s right to liberty without the justice. Further it is not known whether they have done assessment or will even continue to prosecute the accused,” blasted Khuto before granting the accused free bail.
The prosecution was further instructed to give reasons why court should not dismiss the case at the next mention, set for 27 October.
