Deadly fight over pastures

MOHALE’S HOEK – VILLAGERS of Ncuncu and Lithabaneng are living in fear following violence over pastures that has left a herdboy fighting for his life at Queen ’Mamohato Memorial Hospital.
According to Lithabaneng Councillor, Paseka Ramakoae, the violence between residents of the two villages has become a recurring problem.

“We have to deal with the same problem every year,” he said.
He said the problem was worse in 2011, but the situation stabilised “a bit” after the Lithabaneng chief realised its dangers and spoke with other chiefs that they should preserve pastures (ho beha) as part of efforts to peacefully manage conflicts regarding grazing land because some villagers have small spaces while others don’t have land.

“Afterwards, it took more than five years to preserve the pastures because there were similar conflicts,” Ramakoae said.
He said last year, they met with Thaba-Tšoeu leaders and agreed to use the grazing land collaboratively.

“We did inform our villagers about our agreement but to our surprise they are grazing (ba e phuntse) without our knowledge and since they didn’t know about the changes, they joined them,” he said.
When they went to the area to stop the herdboys from grazing their livestock in the preserved pastures last month, he said, the Ncuncu herdboys started fighting.

“The fighting was taken lightly and no one addressed it directly. I believe the latest one was talked about because the herdboy was admitted to a hospital, whereas at first he was only assaulted but treated as an outpatient,” he said.
Ramakoae said people in his village are petrified after receiving threats from their rivals.

“We are still watching, nothing has happened so far but this will not end until chiefs address it accordingly.”
The Lithabaneng’s Chieftainess ’Mamoseneke Lebona said the people were fighting over village borders.
She said many were taking the threats seriously since most people get services such as church, schools and transport at Ncuncu.

“We knew that the place belonged to Thaba-Tšoeu before the establishment of Ncuncu,” she said.
The Letlapeng’s Chief Taeke Lebona said border wrangles were at the centre of the conflicts.
“This idea of revenge is madness. Ncuncu residents shouldn’t stop our people from doing their duties,” Chief Lebona said.
He said since 1999, Letlapeng and Ncuncu people fought over Thotaneng, a plain area between the two villages.

The issue has since been brought to the attention of the office of the Thaba-Tšoeu chief, who has jurisdiction over all villages in the area, although it is yet to be resolved.
“They keep saying they will resolve the issue. But I can’t blame the current chief as they were failed by their elders,” he said.
Thaba-Tšoeu Councillor, Sankoela Rathobei, said grazing in the disputed areas has since been stopped by the Principal Chief while she worked on the sticking issues.

Despite this, he said, they learnt that Lithabaneng residents (many of who work in Gauteng, South Africa) are threatening another revenge attack.
“There is still more fighting to come,” he said.
He said their issue dates back to “many years ago” before he became a councillor.

“They have been fighting and temporary solutions sometimes brought a bit of peace but now they are at it again,” he said.
He said the area chief tried to intervene but the people didn’t listen hence the issue has now been elevated and is now being handled by the Principal Chief.

“We are still waiting on her and the fear of Ncuncu residents is that those in Gauteng will come prepared for a fight and if they continue fighting, how many corpses will we count?”
Thaba-Tšoeu Principal Chief’s assistant, Setlolela Lebona, said the disputed area belongs to Ncuncu because the area is divided by a river.
He said they were yet to ask Chieftainess ’Maphakiso Lebona, the Principal Chief, for a permanent solution.

Sub-Inspector ’Mareabetsoe Mofoka confirmed the case, and said the Mohale’s Hoek police intervened to stop the revenge fights while some perpetrators were arrested.
“They are still waiting for the hospitalised herdboy to be discharged so that he can press assault charges,” Mofoka said.

’Mapule Motsopa