‘No man is happy when his wife is not home”- Kgosi Sebele
Former Bakwena Regent, Kgosi Edwin Kgosikwena Sebele has landed in court once again, this time for allegations of wife battering.
The 78-year-old former president of customary court of appeal who was once jailed for two years on a conviction of stock theft has been charged with assault common and was arraigned before Molepolole Magistrates’ Court on January 13th, 2023.
Last week Monday when he appeared for mention before Chief Magistrate Gaseitsiwe Tonoki, prosecution told the court that the chief’s wife has run away from home with no intention to return.
According to the charge sheet, sometime last year in December in Molepolole, Kgosikwena unlawfully hit his wife, Mmamosweu with a fist on the shoulder and pushed her down.
Speaking after court, 67-year-old Mmamosweu told of how her excessively jealous husband once beat her and then brought his family home to counsel them.
She said that she could however not participate in a counselling session with his elders because she was too traumatised to speak and instead she chose to report the matter to the police.
For his part Kgosikwena said he was not happy that the court had ordered him not to meet with the wife until finalisation of the matter.
“No man is happy when the wife is not home,” said the visibly frustrated chief further noting that the wife could have reported the matter to elders from both families instead of taking it to the police.
The chief also raised concerns about the ridicule he was being subjected to on social media in relation to the goat stealing incident.
“That was a 2010 case and the owner of the goat even gave evidence before court that I did not steal the goat but I had bought it from her. After spending two years eight months in prison I appealed the case and I was discharged and acquitted,” said Kgosikwena who was accompanied by his attorney, King Tshebo.
The embattled couple got married four years ago on September 16th, 2018 after the death of Kgosikwena’s first wife.
Asked why she would not consider reconciliation MmaMosweu said, “He abuses me, then asks me to forgive him and then he continues to abuse me and my children. He has even gone as far as accusing my second born daughter of finding men and traditional doctors for me. He also has a habit of asking me to accompany him to political meetings and then lashing out at me when other men greet me at such meetings. He becomes jealous and irritated in the presence of other people, which is embarrassing” explained Mmamosweu who further revealed that she had to run away because the chief brings an axe to bed allegedly to protect himself against thieves in case of a break-in.
The pensioner further disclosed that the jealous husband has even confiscated her passport, a certificate for her plot in Mmanoko and his Identity card, which makes it difficult for her to access services.
The wife abuse matter has been scheduled for case management on September 7th and November 7th, 2023 set as commencement of trial date.
In the meantime Mmamosweu will be accommodated at a safe house for abused women following an incident of a suspicious car that she said was seen at her house in Mmanoko where she had moved to away from her marital home.
