Lawyer’s life threatened by an ex-boyfriend, also a lawyer
Shortly after the launch of Chats Foundation, in remembrance of the slain lawyer Chatapiwa Keakantse by her lawyer boyfriend, a similar case involving one Naledi Katse (not her real name) is brewing.
Katse who is not ready to talk because of the trauma she has suffered is said to be fearing for her life. A source close to the developments told The Midweek Sun that a year after the tragic demise of Keakantse, it is shocking that the legal fraternity is faced with another case of GBV.
The source revealed that her friend’s exboyfriend, names known to this publication, but commonly known as TJ, is causing havoc in her life.
Things took an ugly turn between the couple at the beginning of the year when TJ allegedly assaulted his girlfriend leaving her almost crippled. TJ is closely related to a cabinet minister and incidentally, his mother sits in a ministerial GBV committee.
“TJ was reported to the
Police and imprisoned for 48 hours and then released on bail,” she said, further highlighting that from the time
TJ was released he has not stopped harassing and pressuring his ex-girlfriend directly and indirectly to drop the case against him. “This pressuring escalated to intimidation as he would not stop contacting her multiple times despite her telling him that she had broken up with him,” she added. Approached for comment, TJ demanded to know the names of our source and would not confirm whether he was on bail or not or if he had a restraining order against his ex-girlfriend. What compelled the source to speak out on behalf of her traumatised friend is when TJ allegedly threatened to end her friend’s life if she did not agree to sort things out in their relationship.
“He has continued to pressurise Katse to drop the case. He even goes as far as contacting close friends and family members to try to get them to somewhat appeal on his behalf,” she added.
The source explained that these acts of intimidation by TJ came to a point where a restraining order was issued against him, but he continues to violate its conditions.
“He is failing to abide by the bail conditions and has been violating the terms of the restraining order as well,” she said, reiterating that they fear that his behaviour, has left those close to his ex-girlfriend with nothing but worry and fear for her life and safety. “What shocks me is that TJ is a lawyer and knows the law better but seems to be at ease and comfortable with purposefully and continually violating the restraining order,” she said.
She said a lot does not add up in the case as law enforcement cannot seem to contain TJ despite his being reported multiple times for continued harassment. She said that the Chats Foundation which was officially launched on August 24th of 2022 led her to speak out because her friend’s current situation seems to be similar to that of the late Keakantse.
The Chats Bua Le Nna Foundation’s mandate is to raise awareness of any form of GBV and offer support to organisations that align with this mandate. Board Secretary at Chats Bua Le nna Foundation, Gotsilemotho Winnie Phuduhudu emphasised that their condemnation of GBV cuts across all professions and walks of life. “Bookbinder Business Law (BBL) lost an employee, Chatapiwa Keakantse, who was an attorney at BBL. She was killed by a practising lawyer. “To that end, we will continue to stand by the notion that GBV should be eradicated to preserve life and the dignity of all those involved,” she added.
She said that there is no excuse for abuse, and everyone needs to play a part in protecting the vulnerable against perpetrators. They believe that more needs to be done in terms of scouring the surface in corporate workplaces. “The need for education or awareness about GBV has been neglected in white collar industries for a long time due to the assumption that employees in such spaces know better,” Phuduhudu said.