Fined a bull for helping a gogo

LIMPOPO – The Capricorn District Municipality’s DA councillor, David Setjie from Mankweng was fined a bull by the Mothapo Royal Council on Human Rights Day on 21 March for donating a wheelchair to help make the life of a stroke-stricken gogo, Martha Pilusa, easier.

However, the fine was recently declared null and void by the Mankweng magistrate’s court, according to Setjie.

Setjie said it all began when he was called by residents to help the bedridden gogo.

He said the residents who contacted him said they were doing so as their own councillor had failed to assist. “It touched me deeply to see her lying helplessly on her bed,” he said.

“I organised a wheelchair just to try and make her life easier, unaware that my help would provoke chief Moremadi Mothapo, an ANC parliamentarian in Cape Town.

“I was shocked on the following day when the Mothapo Royal Council summoned me to a ‘kangaroo court’ and questioned why I donated the wheelchair.

“Although I tried to clear up the matter, my explanation didn’t convince them and they fined me with a bull or R6 000 cash.

“I refused to pay the fine and took the matter to the Mankweng magistrate’s court where the Mothapo Royal Council lost the case. They were ordered to pay the costs as well,” Setjie said.

“It is unfortunate that the gogo died a few months ago, may her soul rest in peace,” he said.

“It is very bad to see the chief treating people according to their political affiliation. The chief is an ANC parliamentarian and the speaker of the Capricorn District Municipality and there are other senior ANC members living around there too,” he said.

All attempts to contact Mothapo proved fruitless by the time of going to print.