Land dog fight taints minister

‘MATHATO SEBOKA and

MOTSAMAI MOKOTJO

MASERU – Minister of Public Works Neo Matjato Moteane, has been accused of using state apparatus to intimidate business mogul, ‘Maposholi Mosothoane, in a battle over prime land located close to the Central Bank of Lesotho in Maseru.

Mosothoane has been locked in a legal with minister Moteane’s older brother, Dr Mohlalefi Moteane, over the doctor’s encroachment on her site which was given to her after government identified a piece of land she previously owned of public interest where the Maseru Fire Brigade has been earmarked for construction.

She sensationally, told Public Eye that minister Moteane in his capacity as a member of the executive, directed the Government Assets Search Recovery Task Team (GASRTT) to intimidate her.

The plot in question appears under a government gazette titled Declaration of Land Set Aside for Public Purposes at Maseru Central, Maseru City Council (MCC), Notice, 2022 indicates that a commercial plot No 12284-288 located at Maseru Central, MCC, covering an extent of 2 197 square meters, and leased to one Halemakele Molapo Motšoene.

This paper has been made to understand that before the piece of legislation was enacted, Mosothoane bought the site from Motšoene.

As per the document, it was required for the construction of a fire station, and compensation would also be in the form of land.

After Mosothoane was given another piece of land neighbouring Dr Moteane’s, the doctor allegedly extended his own site – No 12284-310, thereby encroaching into Mosothoane’s.

Mosothoane wrote a letter to the Land Administration Authority (LAA) on September 14, 2023, to seek clarification as to whom it (LAA) had allocated plot 12284-310 to, and she went on to show that the MCC said they had not given out such land.

A fiery Mosothoane said, “I heard that the GASRTT wanted the gazette to be amended.

“My question is: why does the team ask me the same questions that Dr Moteane asked me when he filed a case against me? This makes me suspect who the team is working for.

Some of the GASRTT members are being used by government officials who sold the site we are fighting over in a bid to hide their nefarious work.”

According to Mosothoane, Dr Moteane was arrested for fraud relating to the 310 site which the MCC has not classified as his. She also claims that LAA has not registered the site being claimed by Dr Moteane.

On November 4, 2021, LAA Director of Legal Service Tšeliso Makhaphela wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Police (Compol) titled RE: Request for Cancellation of Subdivision on LMPS Plot at Litaleng, insisting that MCC should be tasked with the planning for the site.

“The Director of Clandestine Survey Services has thus advised that the request for the cancellation of the survey and consolidation of Plot No 12284-228 be made by Maseru City Council as the Planning Authority,” Makhaphela wrote, adding, “The rationale is that this is a planning issue that is within their jurisdiction.”

One of the tenants, Nkhahle Mosothoane, told this paper that Dr Moteane built a wall-like structure that blocked his customers’ cars from enetering a car-wash service that is being operated there.

“I came in contact with Dr Moteane for about five times; he was meddling in my business, yet I’m just renting the site.

“This went on until I asked the police for help; he was subsequently arrested and slept at the cell for contempt of court because those issues he was raising were already before the courts,” Nkhahle said.

Dr Moteane eventually demolished the wall, allowing customers to pass, according to Nkhahle.

But Minister Moteane has hit back by saying that Mosothoane was “barking at the wrong tree…I will do my job even if it is my relative involved. I was recently there, (where the fire station) will be constructed; I do not know what she is talking about.

Why would I be abusing my power? What she does not know is that I am a loyal servant of His Majesty (King Letsie III),” a furious Moteane said, adding, “I condemn with the strongest terms assertions she is making about me.”

On the other hand, Dr Moteane told this publication that he is not interested in discussing the issue, thus, “I am keeping quiet.”

For their part, the GASRTT chairperson, Advocate Seeng Matšosa, confirmed that on February 3 this year, they went to the site in which Mosothoane and Dr Moteane are fighting over but denied allegations that they are fighting politicians’ battles. 

“The purpose of our visit was to hear issues related to the place, as it is our mandate as a team. We met with the police, where we discussed matters related to the project,” Matšosa said.

For their part, the MCC Public Relation Manager, ‘Makatleho Mosala, told this publication that even though they are not privy to the happenings at the site in question, as far as she knows it has always been their property, “but I will revert on that issue later.”

Police information officer, Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli, said they are forging ahead with construction of the fire brigade building as planned.

“I am not aware of the letter from the LAA you are asking about, but it’s all systems go from our side regarding the building for the fire station,” Mopeli said.

“In 2023 there was mediation, which failed to resolve their squabble, as for us as the LAA, we had to set aside our efforts since they (Mosothoane and Dr Moteane) decided to head to courts of law,” the land authority Information Officer, Hopolang Lenoesa, said.

Lenoesa highlighted that she cannot say whether Dr Moteane’s site has not been registered as claimed by Mosothoane since the matter is sub judice.