A Maseru man has taken his neighbour’s son to Matala Local Court for alleging verbally abusing him and threatening him and his mother.
Lehlohonolo Tṧoene told the court that the accused, Neo Makhoathi, also threw stones at his house on Sunday this week.
Makhoathi however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Court president, Malepene Ntlobo, postponed the case to June 23, 2025 after the accused requested to bring a lawyer and another witness.
Tṧoene, testifying as the first prosecution witness, recounted that upon returning home from a society gathering, his wife informed him that someone was throwing stones onto their roof and that Makhoathi was still insulting them.
He said as he walked to the bedroom, he heard shouts and went to investigate. He then discovered it was Makhoathi, who verbally insulted him using his mother’s private parts. The accused also insulted Mofeletsi Lenkoe, the second prosecution witness (PW2), who was cutting wood at his (Tṧoene’s) property.
Tṧoene further submitted that Makhoathi also threatened his children, stating they would “live like their father and in pain”.
Makhoathi also repeated the offensive insult directed at his mother, he said.
Tṧoene told the court that he took his gun and fired a warning shot into the air to get Makhoathi to stop, but the accused allegedly told him to shoot him as he rushed to enter his home.
Following this incident, Tṧoene called the community policing forum to report Makhoathi’s behaviour. He also contacted Thamae Police Station and the Rapid Response Unit.
After the initial call, Makhoathi reportedly reappeared and resumed insulting Tṧoene and Lenkoe.
Tṧoene said he then called a member of the community policing forum who lives nearby to witness the fracas, adding that police eventually arrived at Makhoathi’s place at around 10pm.
“Approximately 15 minutes after the police left, I heard Neo’s voice calling my name, followed by another insult involving my mother’s private parts,” Tṧoene told the court.
He said the following morning, he received a call from a policing forum member informing him that Makhoathi was at the police station and that he (Tṧoene) should report to Lithabaneng Police Station.
Tṧoene noted that Makhoathi was questioned about their problems but Neo denied any knowledge. It was at this point that Tṧoene was advised to take the matter to Matala Local Court.
Lenkoe, who was cutting wood at Tṧoene’s home, testified and corroborated Tṧoene’s account.
Thapelo Morae (PW3), a neighbouring community policing forum member called by Tṧoene to listen to Makhoathi’s insults, also provided a statement consistent with Tṧoene’s.
Makhoathi’s statement, however, differed significantly. He claimed to have arrived home around 6pm on the day of the incident with a friend, only to rush inside because a gun was being fired at him.
Makhoathi said he found his mother dishing up food and she asked why shots were being fired, speculating that whoever was behind them might be looking for him.
He then told his mother he wouldn’t sleep at home, and she advised him to report the matter to the police, which he said he would do so the following morning.
Makhoathi said upon his return the next morning, his mother informed him that the police were looking for him. He then went to Lithabaneng Police Station, where he was placed in a cell and charged with insulting Tṧoene and throwing stones at his house.
The following day, Lehlohonolo, PW2, and PW3 arrived at the station to discuss the matter. A recording was played before Makhoathi but he denied it was his voice.
Prosecution interns, Vuyani Sehloho and Mosa Maphale, however, pointed out to the court that Makhoathi did not deny the insult in his statement and had even mentioned during questioning that he had insulted Tṧoene.
The court also found the testimony of Makhoathi’s mother, ‘Mamotlatsi Makhoathi, 49, to have inconsistencies and deemed false.
