A woman described how she was allegedly abducted, slapped and had her hands tired behind her back by members of a vigilante group suspected to be connected to a Limpopo chief.
Annah Mokgopya is one of seven other residents from the Moletjie area who have taken legal action against Chief Kgabo Solomon Moloto III and the Moletsi Tribal Authority for allegedly using a group called the "green berets" to intimidate them.
Lawyers representing Moloto were expected to approach the Polokwane High Court today for an extension to file their answering affidavits, after failing to meet four previous deadlines.
The residents who were represented by the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), filed papers late last year seeking an order interdicting Moloto against committing further acts of "intimidation, assault and harassment". They also wanted the court to order cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs MEC Makoma Makhurupetje and Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha to investigate misconduct on the part of the chief.
In court papers, community members detailed harrowing instances of alleged beatings and abduction at the hands of the "green berets".
Makgopya said she was abducted in June 2014 and taken to the tribal court where she was interrogated for apparently failing to heed a summons.
"He slapped me saying that I should not sit on a chair as a woman in the tribal court," Mokgopya states.
Sowetan previously reported that Alfred Mafikeng, 66, claimed to have been detained for hours and repeatedly assaulted. Mafikeng also described, in the papers, how he was allegedly interrogated in May 2015.
"Before I could answer, he kicked me in the mouth. I bled. He said to the men 'why don't you kill this dog?'," he said.
The other applicants include Alice Mogano, Johnson Mokgadi Moloto and Pheeha Masedi.
"When carrying out their unlawful acts, the green berets made it clear to their victims that they are carrying out the instructions of the first respondents (Chief Moloto)," it states.
Yesterday LRC Attorney Wilmien Wicomb said lawyers representing Moloto and the council had failed to file responses despite numerous postponements.
Moloto's lawyer Samuel Mpati said they would ask the court to grant them a further 15 days to respond.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
Chief charged with assault
A woman described how she was allegedly abducted, slapped and had her hands tired behind her back by members of a vigilante group suspected to be connected to a Limpopo chief.
Annah Mokgopya is one of seven other residents from the Moletjie area who have taken legal action against Chief Kgabo Solomon Moloto III and the Moletsi Tribal Authority for allegedly using a group called the "green berets" to intimidate them.
Lawyers representing Moloto were expected to approach the Polokwane High Court today for an extension to file their answering affidavits, after failing to meet four previous deadlines.
The residents who were represented by the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), filed papers late last year seeking an order interdicting Moloto against committing further acts of "intimidation, assault and harassment". They also wanted the court to order cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs MEC Makoma Makhurupetje and Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha to investigate misconduct on the part of the chief.
In court papers, community members detailed harrowing instances of alleged beatings and abduction at the hands of the "green berets".
Makgopya said she was abducted in June 2014 and taken to the tribal court where she was interrogated for apparently failing to heed a summons.
"He slapped me saying that I should not sit on a chair as a woman in the tribal court," Mokgopya states.
Sowetan previously reported that Alfred Mafikeng, 66, claimed to have been detained for hours and repeatedly assaulted. Mafikeng also described, in the papers, how he was allegedly interrogated in May 2015.
"Before I could answer, he kicked me in the mouth. I bled. He said to the men 'why don't you kill this dog?'," he said.
The other applicants include Alice Mogano, Johnson Mokgadi Moloto and Pheeha Masedi.
"When carrying out their unlawful acts, the green berets made it clear to their victims that they are carrying out the instructions of the first respondents (Chief Moloto)," it states.
Yesterday LRC Attorney Wilmien Wicomb said lawyers representing Moloto and the council had failed to file responses despite numerous postponements.
Moloto's lawyer Samuel Mpati said they would ask the court to grant them a further 15 days to respond.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
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