Michael Molebatsi, 26, a labourer at the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, was this week arraigned before the Urban Customary Court President, Kgosi Dikwalo Monametsi, charged with assault common and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Evidence heard in court say that Molebatsi went to his girlfriend’s work place at the Planet Lodge, where she worked as a cook, and asked her why she had not come home. State Prosecutor from Central Police Station, Constable Ditiro Phirinyana, told the court that the accused had gone to Judy Diaparo, his girlfriend’s work place while she was asleep because she had knocked off late and had slept at the lodge since she was due to start work on another shift early the very next morning.
Molebatsi was let into the premises by Judy’s workmates who led him to the room where Judy was asleep at the back. Judy invited him in and asked him to come sleep since it was still too early yet. Molebatsi agreed but then told Judy that he had come to collect her. Judy explained why she could not go home and then Molebatsi lost his temper and assaulted her all over.
She told the court that her boyfriend assaulted her because he did not want her to sleep at her work place.
In mitigation Molebatsi asked the court to forgive him and asked not to be sent to prison otherwise he would lose his job.
Kgosi Monametsi told him that he assaulted his girlfriend for nothing and that he was supposed to sleep after being asked not to manhandle his girlfriend in the way he did.
He then sentenced him to four stokes on the bum and advised him to stop bulling his girlfriend.
