THE suspended Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Advocate Hlalefang Motinyane, has intensified her legal battle to reclaim her position, launching fresh litigation challenging Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s authority to advise His Majesty King Letsie III to initiate impeachment proceedings against her.
Adv Motinyane accuses the Prime Minister of lacking candor in his representations to the King, alleging that he failed to disclose the existence of a pending court case in which she is already challenging his decision to seek her removal from office.
She further argues that Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane was conflicted and therefore incapacitated from appointing a three-member tribunal to assess her fitness for office, as he is cited as a respondent in her earlier, still-pending Constitutional Court case.
Mr Matekane first suspended Adv Motinyane in June 2024, citing alleged misconduct and administrative irregularities. The Law Society of Lesotho (LSL) challenged the move, arguing it was unconstitutional.
Adv Motinyane argues that the government cannot lawfully proceed with her impeachment while her earlier case, filed in August 2024, remains pending before the same court. She contends that Mr. Matekane’s decision to advise His Majesty King Letsie III to initiate an investigation into her possible removal under section 141 of the Constitution was unconstitutional, invalid, and null and void.
Two Mokhotlong Men Appear in Court on Separate Charges
Two men appeared before the Mokhotlong Magistrate’s Court on 30 December 2025 in unrelated cases involving sexual assault and malicious damage to property.
Atang Matoshela aged 26, from Paneng, Moremoholo in Mokhotlong, was charged with sexual assault. The court granted him bail of M2,000.00 with a surety of M15,000.00. However, after failing to meet the bail conditions, Matoshela was remanded in custody. He is expected to reappear in court on 13 January 2026.
According to Inspector Kotsoane Ramakau, investigations revealed that on 27 December 2025, Matoshela arrived at his grandmother’s home in Matamong, Mokhotlong, stating that he had been in town, before later leaving to go drinking.
In a separate incident, Refiloe Mokotjo aged 32, of Ha-Moeketsane in Mokhotlong is facing charges of malicious damage to property and stone-throwing at people. He also appeared in court on 30 December 2025, where he was granted bail of M1,000.00, which he paid. Mokotjo is scheduled to reappear in court on 13 January 2026.
Evidence presented in court alleges that the accused damaged the vehicle of a man who was travelling with his ex-girlfriend. He allegedly went on to throw stones at people when they attempted to restrain him.
