Tefo Tefo
MASERU — A local chief who allegedly gunned down his mother seven years ago has appeared in the High Court to answer a charge of murder.
Chief Sekonyela is charged with killing his mother, ‘Makatleho Sekonyela, at their home in Borokhoaneng on July 21 2006.
Sekonyela is denying the charge.
On Friday, the prosecution called Sekonyela’s family driver, Tšokolo Mosebeko, to testify against the chief.
Mosebeko told High Court judge Justice Nthomeng Majara he was sitting in an Isuzu twin cab truck with ‘Makatleho as he was preparing to take her to Ha-‘Majane, about 38 kilometres south of Maseru, when she was killed.
He said he used to take the deceased to Ha-‘Majane every day as she was running some businesses there.
“Shortly after she (‘Makatleho) entered the vehicle I saw a shadow of a person passing in front of the vehicle on the left hand side.
“Immediately I saw Chief Sekonyela standing at the left hand side of the vehicle next to the window holding a gun and pointing it at ‘M’e ‘Makatleho,” Mosebeko said.
He said he then heard a gun sound and tried to jump from the driver’s seat but he could not as he had already fastened his seat-belt.
He said he soon unfastened the belt and fled from the vehicle, adding he heard two more gunshots as he was fleeing from the vehicle.
“I then saw the chief running past me holding a gun; he ran around the corner of the house and disappeared,” Mosebeko said.
He said he did not know why Chief Sekonyela shot his mother.
He however added that ‘Makatleho had refused to give the chief one of her vehicles because he was a “drunkard”.
“She said she could not give any of the vehicles to chief because he was a drunkard.
“That was after the chief had stolen one of the vehicles and drove it away with his friends,” he added.
He said the vehicle later overturned as the chief was driving it in the company of friends.
Chief Sekonyela is being represented by Advocate Letuka Molati.