Mohale FM YOUTH activist, Tšolo Thakeli, popularly known as Tjeka-Tjeka, has suffered an early setback in his bid to challenge Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s government after the High Court struck his case off the urgent roll. However, Mr Thakeli says the setback will not deter him from pursuing what he describes as a wider fight to defend democratic space and youth-led protests.
High Court Judge, Polo Banyane, on Thursday removed the matter from the urgent roll after Mr Thakeli’s lawyer, Advocate Tembo Lesupi, conceded alongside state counsel, one Advocate Mohloki, that the application did not meet the requirements of urgency. The case will now proceed through the normal court process.
Mr Thakeli is challenging Section 7 of the Public Meetings and Processions Act of 2010, which makes it an offence to organise or participate in a public gathering or procession without police permission. He wants the court to rule on whether the provision is constitutional.
The case arises from the refusal by the Officer Commanding Maseru Central Police Station, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police SACP) Tšeliso Moerane, to grant Mr Thakeli permission to hold a public gathering and procession aimed at holding the Matekane led government accountable on issues including youth unemployment, governance and economic inclusion
In his court papers, Mr Thakeli states that on 3 December 2025, following prior engagements with the Officer Commanding Maseru Central Police Station, he submitted a formal request to hold a public gathering and procession on 9 January 2026. The march was to start at Sethaleng sa Mopapa and proceed to Sefikeng sa Moshoeshoe between 10am and 2pm.
Despite the court setback, Mr Thakeli insists the case is only the beginning of a broader push against what he views as broken promises to the youth and growing intolerance of dissent under the current administration.
