MASERU – The murders of ’Mahlompho Matela (Rethabile Mofolo) -(30) and Libuseng Maqakachane (21) have again harshly reminded Lesotho that GENDER Based Violence (GBV) is a pandemic, with women comprising the larger percentage of victimization than children and men.
Mofolo is now one of the many women who never lived to tell her story when she died at the hands of her husband and father of her two kids aged seven (boy) and four (girl).
She had been married to her husband Qamo Matela (35) for nine years, and lived in the same compound with Matela’s mother at Ha Mabote. Mofolo is said to have always provided for the family as she was the only one working.
A source privy to the matter alleges that earlier on the day of the fight, Matela’s mother asked her daughter-in-law to give her M20.00, but she had told her she didn’t have it.
“Matela was not home at that time, and when he arrived a heated quarrel ensued between the couple over Mofolo’s failure to give her mother-in-law M20.00, and before she knew it, her husband had beaten her to a pulp.
“Qamo did not tell anyone about what had happened, but for a whole week he locked his wife inside the house. She could barely move and had some episodes of convulsions from time to time. Obviously his mother knew what had happened but she too had not uttered a word to anyone.
“He kept on answering his wife’s phone, telling people who called that she was not feeling well and was resting after she had taken some medication.” Says the witness.
When Mofolo’s sister called on Friday, she had already heard about what had happened and insisted on going over to her sister’s place to take her to hospital, and yet it had taken Matela a whole week before he could seek medical help for his wife who could barely move.
Upon arrival she rushed her sister to Maseru Private hospital where she was later referred to Netcare in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
The following day she was pronounced dead and the matter was reported to the police in Lesotho.
It took police four days before Matela was arrested and charged for the murder of his wife. He appeared before the TY magistrate court on Friday, and he was returned to police custody, because by the time the court proceedings ended it was already late for him to be admitted in awaiting-trial-prison.
He was only taken to prison on Saturday where he awaits his second remand on September 28, 2021.
Mofolo’s cousin, Tšepiso Mofolo, told Lesotho Times that they never knew that their sister had been turned into a punching bag because she never reported, and they always looked happy.
“They were one of the happiest couples many people looked up to, and it is sad that she had to put up with this torture until she died at the hands of a man she loved, a man she always made sure was well taken care of along with their two kids.
“Qamo was not working but no one could tell because his wife always made sure that he looked good and even helped with securing odd jobs for him here and there. He should have known better than to have killed her like that. She deserved better.
“I wish nothing for this guy, but a very long life of memories with Rethabile and how he killed her. I want him to remember how he killed someone who took care of him. I want him to remember that his wife would call favors to help him find odd jobs. I want to know why he killed my sister,” said a rattled and angry Tšepiso.
Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli confirmed the incident.
Meanwhile in another incident, a 21 year old woman of Pitseng Mphosong in Leribe, Libuseng Maqakachane was found dead in a veld at Ha Ramakakamela Leribe.
According to Senior Superintendent Mopeli the deceased’s body was discovered on Sunday by herd boys who raised alarm.
“The villagers had started searching the place after two little kids, one aged two years and the other eight months, were found abandoned not very far from where Maqakachane’s body was found.
The two kids were found on Friday morning by a passerby and were handed over to Hlotse police, who later went to the deceased’s home to ask if they could be identified.
On behalf of the family Ramosebetsi Matsoso, said the last time they saw the deceased was in 2018 when she left for Orange Farm in South Africa to find a job.
“She left for South Africa without her parents’ permission and they were never happy about her departure. It was only in 2019 when they learnt that she was staying with her boyfriend and had a baby girl. She would send pictures of her daughter to her parents even though she had never come home since then.
“Last year her father also went to find a job in South Africa. He met his daughter and kept in contact until she disappeared, but he kept begging her to go back home.
“No one was aware that she was pregnant again, until she was getting ready to come home. The kids had never met her family and this would be their first time to be in Lesotho,” said Mr Matsoso.
He said he only got to know about this gruesome discovery on Sunday afternoon when Libuseng’s body was found. He then went to Leribe to identify his sister at a mortuary, and positively identified her.
“We have since received some rumors that Libuseng could have been killed by her boyfriend as he was the last person to be seen with her after a fight earlier. He said he wanted her back because they needed to fix their issues.
“We are humbly appealing that he comes forward and hands himself over to the police, and help us to bury the deceased. He should come and see the pain he has put us through, and if possible we would like his family and our family to meet and join forces and bury the deceased.
“This will help us get closure and put the past behind us. He should also be arrested and pay for what he did because he can’t run forever. He should just man up. The rest of us can get counseling and forgive one another because avenging her death won’t benefit us in any way.
“What he did is really sad and I am appealing to all men out there to stop these senseless killings of defenseless women. Men should get it through their heads that they were born of women and they should protect them at all costs and times. Seemingly most men still don’t understand the value of women and this is sad. It is time that we stand together as men and fight these killings that have now become a norm.”
Senior Superintendent Mopeli said when the body was discovered Maqakachane had bruises, her back had marks that appear to have been caused by something sharp. She appeared to have been strangled with a shoe lace, her throat had been slit open, and she had also likely been raped.
