A MEMBER of the defence and security cluster in parliament Teboho Sekata has lambasted the government for failing to negotiate the release of Lesotho soldiers detained in South Africa.

He said it was high the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was involved in the matter since the Lesotho government appears to have lost interest in the soldiers’ release.

Mr Sekata is also the Secretary General of the opposition Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD).
"In numerous meetings we had in parliament, we advised the government on how best this issue could be addressed but to no avail. The government is showing no interest," he said.
The two junior soldiers, Private Rorisang Moepi, 22, and Pvt Dumile Tšoeunyane, 26, were arrested in July in Matatiele, Kwazulu-Natal province on charges of stock theft, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, illegal immigration and contravention of SA Covid-19 regulations (disaster management act that restricted movement into SA) and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
However, according to the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), the two were on legal patrol duties and were pursuing alleged livestock thieves.

Sources within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in Matatiele told Metro that it was not unusual for either Lesotho or SA security forces to find themselves on either side of the border unannounced, adding that they were never arrested as long as they identified themselves.
LDF spokesperson Captain Kelebone Mothibi also confirmed that was not the first time Lesotho soldiers crossed into South Africa without using proper channels while on patrol duty.

The two detained soldiers were remanded in custody and appeared on several occasions before the Maluti District Court in Matatiele where their bail application is being argued.
Highly placed Metro sources within the SANDF and South African Police Service (SAPS) in Matatiele said they got it on good authority from their counterparts in Qacha’s Nek LDF barracks that the two soldiers did not report their intended further mission to their immediate commanders at the barracks, hence they were found in SA shabbily dressed, without official army ID cards and no back up or references as to who should be contacted in case they encountered any problem.
“Our soldiers cannot capture army officers from Lesotho who are on duty. Our relations in this stock theft prone border areas of Lesotho and South Africa are very cordial. We sometimes hold joint drives to show of our presence or in pursued of stolen livestock,” the source said.