"The law of defamation protects individual reputation. The law assumes that all people are of good character until the opposite is proved in a court of law. Again Mr Court Manager, your employee says I smell of urine and I have an eyewitness I can…"
Court Manager: He interrupted me before I could finish. "Miss Zikelele, I humbly apologise for her behaviour, can you kindly give me her name and I will deal with this."
Linomtha: "Deal with it how sir?" I gave him this tell me now look. "Anyways, I don't know her name but I can gladly go and point her to you now."
Court Manager: He got up and went like
"Let's go."
I felt so proud of myself. I am not going to be undermined like that. I am tired of people thinking that I am not suitable for this profession because of the way I look and dress.
We arrived at her office.
Linomtha: "That one sir," I pointed at her.
Court Manager: "Mokgadi Miss Zikelele here tells me that you spoke and treated her in a very ill manner. Care to explain yourself?"
Mokgadi: "Ummmm."
Court Manager: "Is it true? Do you know who this lady is? She is an attorney and working for Mr Ndlovu. She will sue you."
I was just standing there, looking all confident, doing the victory walk in my mind.
Mokgadi: "Kekgopelatshwarelo mohlomphegi" (I am asking for an apology, the respected one).
Court Manager: "Don't ask me. Ask the person that you have wronged, Attorney Zikelele."
Mokgadi: "Kekgopelatshwarelosesi."
Linomtha: "Apology accepted. Next time you won't be so lucky. I will sue you and take every last thing you own, wabolaya ketlala wankgamereto" (I will sue you and take everything you own, and you will die of hunger and smell of urine).
She couldn't even look at me. She was just looking down so ashamed.
Court Manager: "Mokgadi, drop everything you're doing and come with me to my office and we'll assist Attorney Zikelele."
We all walked back to the office.
Court Manager: "Miss Zikele, you wanted to be assisted with?"
Linomtha: "Mokgadi, care to explain to him?"
Mokgadi: "She wants an urgent application for a financial investigation with all the banks on one of her clients."
Linomtha: "Point of correction, not my client, but a person who is accusing my client of a crime, whuu Mokgadi, you need to pay attention at work sesi or you will do mistakes and lose your job wa so ko lawankgamereto" (be poor and smell of urine). Felt so good to use the lines she used to insult me against her.
Court Manager: "Consider it done Miss Zikelele, I will personally appoint an investigator who will go to all the banks and obtain a bank statement if the complainant has a bank account with them. Unfortunately it won't be possible to send him now because most banks are closing. Before the end of tomorrow you will hear from me with feedback. Again, I humbly apologize for the service you received today."