Thaba Tseka Apr 17 — A 40-year-old Leballo Mokhethi is in police custody after allegedly stabbing to death a 34-year-old herder at Mantsónyane, Ha Mateu.
This was stated in an interview with Superintendent Karabo Mopeli on Monday who said it is reported that the argument and conflict started after the suspect had called the deceased wife a hooker.
He said it is reported that both are herders who are staying at the cattle posts and had gone to the village for a few drinks.
Supt. Morapeli said it reported as they were drinking, the suspect had indicated that he would have to go home to report a missing sheep to his boss, but the deceased had offered his phone to the suspect to call his wife and ask her to pass the message.
He said after a while, the suspect asked the deceased for a phone to call the hooker again, and the hooker was the deceased’s wife.
He said it then started there, as the deceased reprimanded him, but the suspect insisted on calling her that, and they began fighting with sticks, later on, the suspect took out the knife and stabbed the deceased to death.
It is the second time within a short period that death reports of herders in the cattle posts are reported.
Meanwhile, at Tšieng last week two men are also reported to have fought while they were attending a traditional function, aimed at washing the initiates’ knobkerries and, both lost lives. They are also reported to have been drinking traditional beer at that event.
Supt. Morapeli said the other was attacked with an axe and after that, he fled and was attacked by the family of the attacked and was beaten to death while the one attacked with an axe died at Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital later.
Supt. Morapeli said it is worrying to see the number of deaths in the district rising due to people fighting over trivial things.
Recently, in Mantšonyane herders staying in the cattle posts had also fought over the boundaries of the rangelands, and one died.
Ends
