Relebohile Makhetha
Woman Police Constable (P/C) Selatile testified this week before the Maseru Magistrate Court, recounting a violent attack she allegedly endured from a motorist, Molikuoa Phohleli (35), while she was on duty.
The incident, which took place in May during rush hour traffic, involved Phohleli, a 4+1 cab driver from Thaba-Bosiu. Selatile claims that Phohleli assaulted her, causing injuries that led to her losing consciousness.
According to Selatile, Phohleli punched her in the face, kicked her repeatedly, and pushed her towards oncoming traffic. At one point, she alleged that Phohleli grabbed her by her police traffic reflector jacket and slammed her against a vehicle, resulting in her passing out.
“He punched me in the face with his fists and kicked me, causing me to fall. He then grabbed me by my jacket and threw me against a vehicle. After that, I don’t know what happened,” Selatile told the court.
She later woke up in the hospital with bruises on her face, a wound above her right eye, and excruciating pain throughout her body. She was discharged the same day to recover at home.
The attack reportedly began after Selatile stopped Phohleli and requested his driving documents, as he was using a prohibited route. Upon receiving the documents and finding that they are in order, she then questioned him about the traffic violation.
When she tried to speak to a passenger in the vehicle, Phohleli allegedly interrupted, instructing the passenger not to cooperate and demanding the return of his documents.
When Selatile refused, Phohleli allegedly grabbed the documents, resulting in the tearing of the certificate of fitness in the process, before assaulting her.
During cross-examination, Advocate Motebo, representing Phohleli, argued that Selatile’s testimony omitted key details.
He suggested that after the certificate of fitness was torn, Selatile spoke to Phohleli in a disrespectful manner, which provoked him. Selatile denied this claim.
Motebo also pointed out discrepancies between her oral testimony and her written statement, where she stated she was unsure if she had been thrown against a truck or a wall.
