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IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Investigating Basotho military-style camps in South Africa: Here's the latest 'concerning' findings
National commissioner of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), advocate Borotho Matsoso said the information about Basotho getting military-style training at certain farms is legitimate. Image: Lesotho Mounted Police Service/Facebook The claimed land included parts of the Free State, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. In an update following the police chiefs' meeting, the co-chairperson of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJoints) in South Africa, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, who was part of the meeting, said the two neighbouring countries are currently jointly working together to share information. "The two police chiefs have met with the delegation from South Africa and Lesotho which comprised of the intelligence community, the investigators, as well as the members of visible policing. The intention of that meeting that we had with our counterparts was to clarify from the correspondence, or the media statements that were made, the media interview that the commissioner of Lesotho, advocate Matsoso, had earlier in the past month," Mosikili spoke to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Lesotho Police Chief, Advocate Borotho Matsoso, and SAPS National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola. Image: SAPS "We have undertaken the investigation, as was directed and the meeting was to clarify and try to establish the exacts as well as to get the data that has been collected by the intelligence community of Lesotho. Both countries are currently jointly working together to share information and to explore because the areas that were communicated with the South African authorities at the time were investigated, and the traces of the military-style training were not discovered in those areas. "However, there are pockets of individuals who were found in some parts of our country, bordering with Lesotho and in-land which were concerning. So, the expansion of this investigation will go beyond what you will look at as a military setup. But to look at any other form of training, because we believe it might be masqueraded as any other form of training. So that is the angle we are taking now. Mosikili stated it would be "pretty premature" to say the Basotho military-style training is not happening in South Africa. The police chiefs agreed that they will do a review in the next seven days, after comparing the intelligence gathered by the South African and the Lesotho sides. While the investigations are deepening, the suspected Basotho nationals have been arrested and charged with being in South Africa illegally. According to Mosikili, the group comprises fewer than 100 individuals. Last month, Mosikili stated that investigations had been conducted in different parts of South Africa, but nothing has been found to back the Lesotho authorities' information. "Yes, we did receive an alert following the revelations made by the police commissioner of Lesotho. We were alerted by the statement that was on his social media account and we did not rest from the time that we received such. We have deployed all our operatives on the ground to establish the facts, including our bilaterals that we are having, because we do have bilaterals with Lesotho," Mosikili previously told the television news channel. She said several engagements were also made within the SAPS, bringing in provincial and national sections of the law enforcement agency, without discounting the alarm raised by the Lesotho police. IOL previously reported that in July, a Lesotho member of parliament, Dr Tshepo Lipholo, leader of the Basotho Covenant Movement, a political party that has been leading the charge in demanding the return of Lesotho's "stolen land" which is part of current-day South Africa, was arrested and charged in the mountain kingdom. Lipholo faces serious charges, including sedition and incitement, and is also accused of violating the dignity and reputation of Lesotho's royal family by allegedly declaring himself the 'paramount chief of Basotholand' and encouraging young Basotho to prepare for armed struggle. It is alleged that audio clips circulating on social media platforms prove these claims. Lipholo has been advocating for certain sections of South Africa to be recognised as Lesotho's territory. Limpholo wants the land to be returned to the governance of Lesotho. Earlier this year, Lipholo travelled to the United Nations, where he submitted a claim that seeks to reclaim land lost during the colonial era. However, Lesotho's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations distanced itself from Lipholo, stating he was acting on his own agenda, and the UN trip was not sanctioned by the Maseru government. IOL News
IOL News
24-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Lesotho insists its citizens undergoing military-style training to reclaim land in South Africa
National commissioner of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), advocate Borotho Matsoso said the information about Basotho getting military-style training at certain farms is legitimate. Image: Lesotho Mounted Police Service/Facebook Authorities in the Kingdom of Lesotho insist they have credible information about Basotho undergoing military-style training in certain farms within South Africa, as part of the growing campaign to fight for the contentious land in South Africa's provinces. The land being claimed includes parts of Free State, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Earlier this month, a Lesotho member of parliament, Dr Tshepo Lipholo, leader of the Basotho Covenant Movement, a political party that has been leading the charge in demanding the return of Lesotho's "stolen land" which is part of current-day South Africa, was arrested and charged in the mountain kingdom. Lipholo faces serious charges, including sedition and incitement. He is also accused of violating the dignity and reputation of Lesotho's royal family by allegedly declaring himself the 'paramount chief of Basotholand' and encouraging young Basotho to prepare for armed struggle. It is alleged that audio clips circulating on social media platforms prove these claims. Lipholo has been leading the charge, calling for certain sections of South Africa to be declared Lesotho's territory. Limpholo wants the land to be returned to the governance of Lesotho. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Earlier this year, Lipholo travelled to the United Nations, where he submitted a claim that seeks to reclaim land lost during the colonial era. However, Lesotho's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations distanced itself from Lipholo, stating he was acting on his own agenda, and the UN trip was not sanctioned by the Maseru government. This week, national commissioner of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), advocate Borotho Matsoso, told Newzroom Afrika that the information regarding the military-style training of Basotho in South Africa is credible. Matsoso said the militant group calls itself Malata Naha (land reclaimers) is active within the borders of South Africa and seems to be 'ready to take over'. 'It is not necessarily young Basotho, but Basotho nationals of different ages, we have discovered that they have been recruited to join this military training in some of the farms in South Africa. This is what we have come across. He added that the programme has the possibility of disrupting peace and security in the region. Some South African citizens, according to Matsoso, have been sucked into the military-style training programme at unidentified farms. Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Sam Ntsokoane Matekane with President Cyril Ramaphosa. Image: Government of Lesotho Last week, Prime Minister of Lesotho, Samuel Matekane issued a statement following the arrest of Lipholo, adding that his government had uncovered that the ongoing actions were intended to disrupt peace, security, and national stability. The land at the heart of the contended areas was historically inhabited by Basotho, people from southern Africa's Bantu ethnic group, who represent the ultimate majority of Lesotho nationals. Last year, a motion was put before parliament in Lesotho, seeking to reclaim large swaths of land from South Africa. The motion seeks to have the Lesotho parliament declare the entire Free State province, which borders Lesotho, and other areas in South Africa, as part of the small mountain kingdom, surrounded by South Africa. IOL News
The Citizen
26-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Linmeyer Montessori Primary School to host exciting event for young athletes
Linmeyer Montessori Primary School (LMPS) is set to host the Junior Sports Development Project Launch on June 28 at the Southern Suburbs Recreation Centre. The event promises a vibrant celebration of youth sports, with engaging activities and special guests to inspire young athletes and sports enthusiasts. A number of high-profile guests will be in attendance, including football legend Shakes Gwabeni of Orlando Pirates, who will introduce the project and motivate the young participants. Ntokozo Ntini and Seipati Motaung will also take part, leading a model parade showcasing the new sports kit to be used in the project. The Youth Sports Development Showcase will highlight talented young athletes and coaches. Among them are Ernest Botha, who trains aspiring linesmen and referees, and Leon France, a dedicated volleyball coach. They will demonstrate their skills and share their knowledge with attendees. In addition to the showcase, organisers will announce the upcoming July holiday junior soccer clinic and tournament. An invitation will be extended for all local schoolchildren to participate in the Region F school holiday programme, which begins at Southern Suburbs on July 8. For more information, contact 083 699 0958. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Morocco World
17-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Gear9 and LMPS Group Partner to Transform Morocco's Digital Security Landscape
Marrakech — Morocco's digital cybersecurity infrastructure got a new boost this week as two of the country's powerhouses shook hands on the final day of GITEX Africa 2025, which took place from 14-16 in Marrakech. Gear9 and LMPS Group signed a partnership that technology experts call a game-changer for the country's digital ecosystem. The partners signed the strategic alliance at the bustling LMPS stand in Marrakech, aiming at embedding cybersecurity directly into digital transformation projects. 'In a context where organizations are accelerating their digitalization, cyber risks, and data sovereignty issues have never been more present,' Gear9's CEO said in an exclusive interview with Morocco World News. 'We realized that security can no longer be an option or an afterthought — it must be built into the foundation of every digital project.' The partnership couples Gear9's expertise in digital transformation —including product thinking, customer experience design, and platform development — with LMPS Group's cybersecurity prowess as a certified ISO 27001 company and member of the international FIRST network. LMPS Group's head explained to MWN that the collaboration addresses a critical gap in the market. 'Many companies invest heavily in digital transformation but treat security as a separate concern,' he noted, adding that 'this often leads to vulnerabilities that could have been avoided if security was integrated from day one.' According to the press release, the partnership is poised to create 'an integrated model of intervention' that merges Gear9's capabilities in 'data platforms, CRM, artificial intelligence, API management, e-commerce, and web and mobile interfaces' with LMPS Group's 'DevSecOps approach, systems protection, and SI governance.' For Morocco's banking sector, which has seen a 35% increase in cyber attacks over the past year, this partnership couldn't come at a better time. 'We're already in talks with three major banks looking to modernize their customer-facing platforms while ensuring ironclad security,' Gear9 CEO Mounir Bouchiha revealed. 'They understand that customer trust hinges on both excellent digital experiences and rock-solid protection of sensitive data.' Beyond the financial sector, the partnership aims to serve government agencies and healthcare providers where data protection requirements are stringent but digital innovation is essential for growth. The companies expect to launch their first joint projects next month, with several proof-of-concept initiatives already underway. As the lights dimmed on the final day of GITEX Africa 2025, the Gear9-LMPS partnership stood as a highlight of the event — a signal that Morocco is not just participating in the digital revolution but helping to shape it with security and innovation walking hand in hand.
