The Matala Local Court has resolved a dispute of over M4100 between two Maseru men.
Court president, Mathuntsi Ntsala, on Wednesday this week ordered Motlatsi Ramaqele of Tsenola to pay Olisia Nthako this amount, which is the cost of a cow the former bought for his wife’s burial.
The first instalment, along with M380 to cover Nthako’s incurred legal costs, is to be paid within 30 business days, Ntsala said in her judgement.
Nthako had sought the court’s assistance to recover the M4100 from Ramaqele, after selling him a cow. It was not disclosed in court when this sale took place.
However, Nthako testified that Ramaqele approached him in a state of grief, urgently needing the animal for his wife’s burial according to Basotho customs.
He said Ramaqele had promised to pay him after receiving his late wife’s insurance funds.
The court heard that Ramaqele subsequently returned to his work in Maputsoe.
While initial contact was maintained, with Ramaqele citing ongoing delays with the insurance claim, communication eventually broke down.
Nthako stated that Ramaqele became uncontactable, leading him to file a case with the local court.
A 62-year-old witness, Moorosi Seala, corroborated Nthako’s version of events, confirming he was aware of the agreement reached by the two regarding the sale of the cow.
Ramaqele admitted to the court that he owed Nthako the said amount. He recounted the difficulties he faced after his wife’s passing, including being directed between government departments in an unsuccessful attempt to access her work-related funds.
Subsequently, Ramaqele said, he sought employment in South Africa, where he was arrested for being in the neighbouring country without proper documentation and lost his mobile phone.
He noted that upon his return to Lesotho, he received the court summons. He did not however, reveal when he was arrested or when he came back into the country.
Appealing to the court, Ramaqele cited his current unemployment and proposed settling the M4100 debt through instalments of M1000.
Court president Ntsala approved this arrangement and instructed Ramaqele to abide by it. She also ordered him to pay an addition M380 to cover Nthako’s legal costs
