Ngwako Modjadji
Northern Province police are investigating charges of assault against the former chief minister of Lebowa, Nelson Ramodike, and Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa coordinator Ledikwa Mogoboya.
Ramodike is also being investigated on charges of obstructing justice after he allegedly instructed police officers at Maake police station, near Pietersburg, not to open a docket.
Two African National Congress members in the village of Motjeteng, where Ramodike owns businesses, claim the United Democratic Movement MPL invited them to his bottle store for free meat and beers.
They allege that when they arrived there they were assaulted by Ramodike and Mogoboya, who accused them of being criminals and spreading lies about the UDM.
Eliah Maake (23), grandson of the local chief, and Lebowa Mangena immediately went to the police. “We went to the police station to lay a charge, but the police refused to help us on the grounds that Ramodike is an important person,” Maake said.
Ramodike in turn laid a charge of malicious damage to property against Maake and Lebowa which police accepted.
The two then appointed a lawyer who laid charges against Ramodike, Mogoboya and the police officers who refused to accept the assualt charge. Their case is to be heard at the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court soon.
Ramodike denied the allegations and said it was the work of the ANC in the village to discredit him.
“I am a law-abiding citizen, a responsible person and an important person who should lead by example. These boys have caused malicious damage to my property,” he says.