A 35-year old man from Ha Seoli, Maseru, was fined M2,000 by the Matala Local Court on Monday for assaulting his girlfriend, Keneue Tamasane, on New Year’s Eve.
Mohapi Mothae pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the court, presided over by Court President Mathuntsi Ntsala and prosecuted by intern Vuyane Sehloho, found him guilty of assault.
According to testimony presented in court, Tamasane (29) said she and Mothae were in a relationship and living together. She recounted that on December 31, 2024, after visiting a friend, she encountered Mothae at her friend’s house, where he was arguing with the friend’s younger brother. She asked Mothae to leave with her, and they returned home.
Later, Mothae asked Tamasane to accompany him to buy alcohol. After returning and spending some time outside, they went inside where Tamasane went to bed. At midnight, she woke up and asked to step outside to watch fireworks. That’s when Mothae allegedly began beating her, slapping her in the face, and accusing her of ‘borrowing clothes from boys’. He also said he was angry because her friend’s younger brother had insulted him.
Tamasane told the court that Mothae strangled her while she screamed for help. Their neighbour, ‘Mabeng Nyabela, testified that she heard Tamasane screaming, “Mohapi, you are killing me!” and tried to intervene but was prevented from entering.
The following morning, Tamasane escaped while fetching water and reported the assault to the Lithoteng Police Station. A medical report, submitted as evidence and marked Exhibit A, confirmed her injuries.
Nyabela corroborated Tamasane’s account, testifying that she twice attempted to intervene but was turned away by Mothae.
In his defence, Mothae denied the allegations, claiming there was no altercation and that he was shocked to be contacted by police. He disputed the medical evidence, saying he was unaware of any injuries and insisted he did not strangle Tamasane.
However, the court found his testimony unconvincing. Court President Ntsala ruled that Mothae was guilty of assault and ordered him to pay a fine of M2,000 or face two years in prison.
