MASERU – Mining minister Keketso Sello did not only breathe fire and portray his anger in the presence of journalists but has also fired his dubious personal aide. This after the minister said his name was lampooned in social media for the act he did not know anything about and was not party to. “I am shocked like anyone else,” he told a packed press conference in Maseru on Monday.
business
Dec. 13, 2018
3 min read
Fuming minister fires ‘dubious’ aide
According to Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso of the North West Police, Rifiloe Mokone, 42, Bokang Nthatisi, 25, and Mandla Ntsibande, 26, appeared at Ladybrand Magistrate’s Court on December 4 after they were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Unit on December 3 for allegedly dealing in diamonds.
“The suspects were arrested around Ladybrand in the Free State Province following a tipoff that they were reportedly peddling unpolished diamonds. The diamonds worth approximately M100 000 were seized from the group following the arrest,” he said in a statement.
He said all four have been remanded in custody and are facing charges of dealing and illegal possession of diamonds. The matter has been postponed to December 19 for bail application.
However, the focus of the alleged crime dwelled on Mr Sello with some writers on social media calling for his immediate sacking. Some called for his arrest and prosecution.
“How can a personal aide, driving the minister’s car be found with smuggled diamonds without the minister’s knowledge and sanction? I find it hard to believe,” quipped one writer on social media.
The incident, which is reported to have happened while the minister was abroad, left the minister with one option: “It is only proper that we release her off her duties. I have already consulted with the human resource office on the way forward regarding the matter.”
Mr Sello said the only instruction he left with his personal aide was for her to facilitate transportation of his wool to Thaba-Bosiu Wool Centre and “if she was arrested between my office and Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) then I would be able to account for her. But I cannot take blame for her arrest in Ladybrand as I had not assigned her there.”
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He explained: “I only heard of the matter while on holiday in Mozambique with my wife. There was no way I could have cut it short because I needed further clarification. My return would not have made any difference as she was already arrested. Let’s wait for her appearance in court on December 19.”
Mr Sello asked journalists not to back off. “You must show the same zeal you are showing now on this matter. In know that it’s a hot matter and it is your tendency that when you find it is not exactly what you expected, you guys you chicken out. No! you must follow it to the end,” he stressed.
Mr. Sello clarified that he employed Mokone to her office because she is a Mosotho national who needed the job and who was once a civil servant hence he believed that she knew how a civil servant should conduct herself.
Asked if he deals in diamond, Mr Sello responded: “Of course I once had interest many years ago but after failing to secure investors I lost interest in diamond business.”
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