Thieving Sheep

Semonkong Drama unfolding
A herd boy was passing along the mission the other day with the animals he was hired to care for but the Priest caught him grazing those animals. Don't laugh, animal conflicts are the number two issue with local Basotho.
The Priest was pretty upset and went to the herd boy telling him to hand over the animals. It is customary that when the violator is caught illegally grazing his animals then he looses the animals until he can pay the fine determined by the violatee, the person who was violated. When the priest tried to take the animals the boy got real upset and was very angry saying he was just taking his animals back to the owner.
Calling other people over for backup the Priest finally got the animals and headed them off but the boy was still pretty angry. Later that day, apparently the boy came to the mission and confronted the priest violently pinning him to the wall telling him to release the animals. Someone interrupted the meeting and the boy somehow ran off.
The next day the owner, the boy, the Priest and his entourage all met to discuss the animals return. In exchange for the animals the priest is demanding compensation of R5000 (about $500). Winter is coming and grass is running scarce, right?! Really the priest is pretty angry about the boy's actions and is using this as a way to show his disappointment. The owner, of course, can't pay that fine and is still in negotiations. The first round had the Priest walk out of the meeting unwavering on the amount of the fine.
Word is the Priest is expecting two letters of apology, one from the owner and one from the boy. Both he very well likely get because the other option is to have a meeting with the area chief, a man who represents all the other little chiefs in Semonkong and also acts like a court system with binding decisions.
Tune in next week and we'll see the conclusion to 'The thieving sheep'!
HAPPY EASTER!