MASERU
The High Court of Lesotho has handed down heavy sentences in one of the most brutal cases to ever come before the bench, a crime that left the Makhetha family shocked and the entire Ha-Lebentlele community traumatised. Delivering judgment this week, Justice ‘Mafelile Ralebese convicted the accused persons for what she described as an “act of the highest level of cruelty.”
The court found the group guilty of murder, attempted murder, assault, arson and malicious damage to property following the horrific events of October 29, 2016, when the Makhethafamily home was attacked after a church service.
According to court papers, the accused intentionally caused the deaths of Tumane Makhetha, ‘Malethole Makhetha and ‘Majane Makhetha. Survivors were left with life-altering injuries, including Limakatso, Lethole, ‘Matšepiso and Tšepiso Makhetha, who were assaulted and set on fire.
Another victim, Thabang Motseko, was brutally beaten, while ‘Marelebohile Mashoai suffered serious bodily harm. The accused persons also torched Tumane Makhetha’s vehicle and smashed windows of the family’s main house, leaving behind a scene of ruin.
Justice Ralebese noted that the violence was sparked by superstition and unfounded accusations of witchcraft. She said the accused carried out the crime with shocking cruelty, even as ‘Mathato Mafeisi was heard uttering disturbing words while sprinkling petrol on one of the victims.
“The saddest part,” the judge remarked, “is that this family was attacked for no reason, in their own home, after a church service. The woman they claimed to be looking for, ’Mabongi, was not even there. She may have gone elsewhere for her own reasons.” The judge stressed that the survivors not only lost their loved ones but were left without a house and vehicle, while the wider community of Ha-Lebentlele was left traumatised by the attack.
In her sentencing, Justice Ralebese said punishment should serve both as a warning and a tool for rehabilitation.
On counts one, two and three (murder charges), ’MathatoMafeisi was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. The rest of the accused were each handed 45 years’ imprisonment for each count. On counts four to seven (attempted murder), all the accused received 25 years each, except Ramakula Fusi and Jeremane Fusi, who were acquitted. On count eight (arson of the vehicle), all were sentenced to eight years.
On count nine (assault of ’Marelebohile Mashoai), all were sentenced to two years, except Nthabiseng Moeti and Ramakula Fusi, who were acquitted. On count ten (damage to the house), all were sentenced to five years, except RamakulaFusi and Jeremane Fusi. On count eleven (another arson charge), all were sentenced to 10 years, except the two Fusibrothers. The court ruled that all sentences will run concurrently.
Justice Ralebese said the case should serve as a lesson to those who resort to violence and superstition. She condemned the belief in witchcraft that led to such a savage attack and said the law must protect innocent people from such baseless accusations. “This incident has had a devastating impact on the Makhetha family and their community,” she said. “It shows the danger of superstition and the cruelty that can result when people take the law into their own hands.”
The judgment brings to a close nearly a decade of waiting for justice, but the scars left on the victims and their community will remain for years to come.
