Maseru, Feb. 10 — A Maseru woman living with epilepsy has raised concerns about alleged discrimination and lack of support at several police stations in Maseru after attempting to report domestic assault.
Speaking to the Agency, Mrs. Mampho Pitso revealed that she once sought help after being assaulted by her husband, who is also epileptic, but was turned away without assistance.
She said police dismissed her report, allegedly telling her that her husband might have acted while not in a good state of mind due to his condition.
Mrs. Pitso expressed shock that officers showed concern only for her husband’s medical state, while ignoring her own.
She later discovered that her husband had presented his medical booklet to the police to justify his actions. When she did the same, hoping to be taken seriously, her efforts were in vain.
“I do not understand how the law works if it protects one person over another when we are both living with the same condition,” she said.
Addressing broader challenges, Senior Inspector Petje Teke of the Child and Gender Protection Unit (CGPU) acknowledged ongoing difficulties in handling cases involving people with psychiatric or neurological conditions.
He explained that although a historic court ruling allowed individuals with such conditions to testify, the directive has never been fully implemented, leaving a gap in the justice system.
Snr. Insp. Teke added that domestic violence cases brought under the GBV counter-domestic laws often stall once they reach prosecution, with officials citing the absence of clear guidelines that allow for full enforcement.
He said assault cases, especially those involving vulnerable people, continue to be taken lightly.
“For many years, we have felt like puppets when bringing such cases before the courts,” he noted, expressing frustration over the lack of progress.
This incident highlights longstanding concerns about access to justice for people living with epilepsy and the urgent need for strengthened protection mechanisms within law enforcement and the courts.
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