Mojalefa Matsoso is being charged with the murder of Ts’eliso Mpheulane
and attempted murder of his mother, ‘Malisebo Mpheulane, who is 82.
‘Malisebo told High Court judge Justice ‘Maseshophe Hlajoane and two
assessors how she was forced to crawl to safety after Matsoso went berserk
sometime on December 24 2008, at Resefeng, Mekaling in Mohale’s Hoek district
in a dispute over the death of a young boy, Rorisang, at an initiation school.
“I crawled into another house so that he could not finish me,” ‘Malisebo
told the court. Matsoso pleaded not guilty to both charges. Matsoso is being tried alone after the crown applied for a separation of
trials after his co-accused Thabo Matsoso and Atang Matsoso absconded. ‘Malisebo told the court that she was in her hut with her son Ts’eliso
when Matsoso entered and grabbed the deceased demanding to know the whereabouts
of Rorisang. Rorisang was Matsoso’s son who had died at the initiation school. ‘Malisebo told the court that Tseliso did not reply when Matsoso asked
him where his son was.
After this Atang entered and grabbed the deceased on the shoulders, who
was followed by Thabo who also grabbed Tseliso. “Mojalefa grabbed Ts’eliso’s hands and Atang Matsoso stabbed him,”
‘Malisebo said. The witness told the court that when Tseliso was stabbed he fell on her,
and they stabbed her too.
According to the witness when
the killing was happening Mojalefa Matsoso was still holding Tseliso’s hands. After stabbing Ts’eliso, the attackers left the house and closed the
door. The trial continues.