AROUND 10 o'clock on Wednesday night, the leader of the Socialist Revolutionaries (SR), Advocate Tehoho Mojapele, who had been detained by police since earlier that afternoon, was let free.
politics
Oct. 19, 2023
STAFF REPORTER
2 min read
Mojapela freed
SR leader, Adv Teboho Mojapela
Story highlights
According to the party public relations officer, Relebohile Mosisili, police did not specify any conditions for their leader's release, adding that it is unclear what will happen next.
She remarked: "We are just happy that our leader, who is fighting for Basotho's liberation, got freed at last.”
Police discovered a stash of guns in Mojapela's bodyguards' possession earlier on Wednesday, prompting Mojapela to be brought to the police headquarters.
Several MPs and SR members, who were obviously incensed by Mojapela's detention congregated at the PHQ gate late on Wednesday afternoon to demand to know why he was being put in police custody.
Police Special Operations Unit (SOU) members stationed at the PHQ gate told Mojapela's supporters that he was not under arrest, adding he was just helping with investigations into where the weapons found in his cars came from. Despite efforts, there was no official response from the police regarding the detention on Wednesday.
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Lebona Lephema, the Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs, and Police, affirmed the police assertion and stated that Mojapela's detention was only formal.
This, he said, came after police discovered heavy weapons earlier on Wednesday in a convoy of six vehicles in which the politician and his bodyguards were travelling.
The arms were discovered near Hoohlo Primary School in Maseru.