SOUTH African courts stood their ground on August 28 when they refused to give in to the diplomatic request to discharge two Lesotho soldiers charged with stock theft and entering the Republic without proper documents. They were arrested in Matatiele in the Kwazulu-Natal province sharing borders with Lesotho’s district of Qacha’s Nek.
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Aug. 30, 2020
METRO REPORTER AND NKOATE THAMAE
3 min read
Lesotho envoy flops to convince discharge of soldiers
Two Lesotho soldiers arreste in Matatiele (Photo:Hoatiti News)
The duo, Private Dumile Ts'oeunyane, 22, and Private Rorisang Moepi, 26, were arrested on July 19 while pursuing Basotho livestock which had been stolen by rustlers in the border areas according to the version of Lesotho authorities. The South African authorities’ version however is that they were found in the company of rustlers.
The arrest some weeks later of four South African officials, two Maseru border officials and two soldiers who crossed to fill up petrol at a border filling station on the side of Lesotho without stamping their passports by Lesotho soldiers was considered a retaliation by authorities in South Africa and it heightened diplomatic tension.
The South African officials have already been released following instructions from Prime Minister Majoro who feared the arrest might hamper ongoing negotiations for the release of two Lesotho soldiers and other diplomatic matters between the two most neghbours.
Although the Lesotho delegation mission to South Africa was not only for the arraigned soldiers to be released but also on easing of border restrictions between the two countries, among others, Basotho’s eyes were set on the possible solution to the soldier’s plight.
A message of hope that the soldiers would be released immediately carried back by the Lesotho delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Mathibeli Mokhothu came to naught amidst high expectations and preparations of an official welcome-home for the soldiers when they did not arrive.
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Speaking at the media briefing while awaiting to welcome the anticipated arrival of the soldiers at Mejametalana Military Airstrip Base Prime Minister Majoro would not explain why the soldiers were not released as promised but highlighted that diplomatic talks were still ongoing and the soldiers were still expected to be back soon.
Later information from Matatiele indicated that the soldiers’ application for bail would be heard on September 4.
Dr Majoro revealed that the delegation to South Africa also engaged in talks regarding how the two countries could work jointly to fight stock theft that is rife in the border areas of Qacha’s Nek and Matatiele. The talks also dwelled on possible re-opening of borders.
Among the milestones achieved by the delegation is the mutual agreement to form cross border ministerial committee to look into the working relationship, development regarding Covid-19 and how the borders between Lesotho and South Africa could be re-opened.
Arron Motswaledi, South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister has said that among the urgent needs indicated by the Lesotho delegation was a need to give preference to Lesotho students who enter schools in South Africa to be allowed to cross the borders.
The Lesotho government intervention in the diplomatic mission to get the Lesotho soldiers released comes after several attempts by Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) army commander Lt General Mojalefa Letsoela to negotiate with his counterpart in South Africa failed on the ground that the Lesotho soldiers were arrested by South African police not soldiers.
Dr Majoro stressed that his administration would ensure that the two countries consider stamping out of cross border crime is a priority, proposing a round the clock joint cross border operations, especially along the borders where livestock theft is rife.
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