Police probe minister�s wife in cattle dispute

Sharon Mathala | Wednesday September 16, 2015 16:37

 

Mmegi is informed that the feud began last month when cattle belonging to the farmer trespassed onto the minister’s (names withheld for now) farm, leading to an alleged confrontation between the wife and the farmer.

“The farmer followed the herd’s tracks and discovered that they had trespassed onto the minister’s farm, whereupon the minister’s wife demanded compensation for the damage they had caused,” a villager in the area told Mmegi.

“The minister’s wife and the farmer agreed that he would leave one of his beasts behind as collateral while he looked for the P4,000 agreed upon as damages.

“However, when he returned all he found was the hide and other remains.” The farmer told Mmegi that he had reported the matter to police and was awaiting feedback. “Everything has been stale. The police called me last Friday saying they could not get hold of the minister and as of now they have not said anything more. “I, however, have given them my statements,” said the aggrieved farmer.

 

Assistant superintendent Batshwari Gaobatlelwe of Goodhope Police station confirmed the case in question.

“We registered the case on August 29. We are still investigating the matter and we are still trying to gather our evidence.

“At this point we do not have much to go on,” he said.

Gaobatlelwe denied that police were dragging their feet on the matter.

“It is a complex case. We have contacted the wife and made her aware, but at this point because we do not have much information in our hands, there is little we can do until investigations are complete,” he said.

For his part, the minister told Mmegi he was aware of the matter.

“My wife and I were not there at the time the cattle trespassed into our farm, but we were told by the herdboy of the incident.

“The farmer said he would compensate us with one cow. “He later went to the police and told them a different story.

The police have not charged us with anything as yet,” the minister said.

Mmegi will not reveal the minister or his wife’s name until police either prefer or drop charges.