Tefo Tefo
A PROSECUTOR has been appointed in a case in which the Alliance of Democrats (AD) youth league President Thuso Litjobo is facing defamation charges in the Magistrate’s Court.
This was disclosed in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday by the District Public Prosecutor Qcinumuzi Tshabalala when Mr Litjobo appeared for remand.
Mr Tshabalala said, “The brief to prosecute this case has been given to Advocate (Hopolang) Nathane who is not feeling well at the moment”.
The case was remanded to 7 April 2017 for the court to set a hearing date.
Mr Litjobo (34) first appeared before the Magistrate’s Court on 15 February facing charges of making defamatory statements on Tšenolo FM on 11 January against the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Motlatsi Mapola.
He is alleged to have uttered defamatory words in Sesotho to the effect that Mr Mapola seemed to be active in party politics.
According to the charge sheet read to him in the Magistrate’s Court he, allegedly contravened section 104 of the Penal Code Act No. 6 of 2010 “in that on or about the 11th day of January, 2017 and at or near Ha-Mabote (DLM complex), in the course of the programme styled, Fika-le-mohala and during a radio interview broadcast over Tšenolo FM, a radio station with a broad and wide listenership, the said accused did unlawfully, and intentionally publish and/or cause to be published, to the said entire listenership as aforesaid, the following words and/or statement defamatory of the complainant, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Motlatsi Mapola”.
The defamatory words are quoted in Sesotho and can be interpreted to mean that ACP Mapola would be bored when there was a change of government because he seemed to be a “tool” used by the present government.
Mr Litjobo allegedly said ACP Mapola should refrain from participating in party politics or those that are close to him should advise him to refrain from such.
Mr Litjobo was released on bail on condition that he paid M500 as bail deposit and to stand trial to finality.