Mohale FM A 30-year-old man, Tankiso Earnest Motelekoa of Ha Seboche in Botha-Bothe, has appeared before the Botha-Bothe Magistrate’s Court facing seven criminal charges.
In the first count, Motelekoa is accused of denying his four-month-old breastfeeding baby access to her mother for a period of 24 hours on February 16, 2026.
The second charge relates to obstruction of police officers. It is alleged that the accused went to Qholaqhoe Police Station, where he attacked an officer using a knife and an axe.
On the third count, he faces a charge of malicious damage to property after allegedly burning seven sheets of thatching grass and damaging a door belonging to Headman Tumane Matela, with the damage estimated at M600.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth counts also involve malicious damage to property. He is accused of breaking two doors and a door frame valued at M2,000 belonging to Manthabiseng Linakane, damaging a door worth M200 belonging to Mamocheku Theletsi, and breaking another door valued at M1,500 belonging to Malathelo Lenong.
Additionally, Motelekoa faces a charge of breach of peace under Section 84 of the Penal Code Act No. 6 of 2010. It is alleged that he acted in a manner likely to provoke public disorder by using abusive, threatening, and insulting language while armed with a knife and an axe, and threatening to harm anyone who denied him access to his child.
The accused was granted bail of M2,500 with a surety of M5,000 in cash or property. However, he failed to meet the bail conditions and remains in custody awaiting trial.
