Latest news with #TshepoLipholo
The Herald
27-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Police crime intelligence on high alert over alleged plan to reclaim 'land stolen' from Lesotho — Masemola
The police crime intelligence division is investigating allegations of Basotho nationals undergoing military-style training on South African farms to reclaim land 'stolen' from the mountain kingdom. This comes after Lesotho police chief advocate Borotho Matsoso is reported to have confirmed the emergence of a group calling itself 'Malata Naha' which is allegedly recruiting Basotho youth from within the country and abroad to incite insurrection against their government and to fight for the contentious land in South Africa. The land being claimed includes parts of the Free State, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Matsoso's comments come after the recent arrest of Lesotho MP Dr Tshepo Lipholo, leader of the Basotho Covenant Movement, a political party which has been demanding the return of Lesotho's 'stolen land'. The arrest sparked unrest in the country. On Saturday, national commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola said Matsoso's allegations were high on the agenda of a meeting with all nine provincial commissioners to discuss crime combating efforts in the country. 'A preliminary report from the crime intelligence division was discussed in which intelligence structures have highlighted that they have heightened their operations to investigate allegations made and where necessary, track down and take down such illegal activities. 'The DPCI, also known as the Hawks crimes against the state (CATS) unit has also been roped in to investigate. Various searches have been undertaken by CATS at various identified farms and no such evidence has been found to date.' Masemola said he reached out to Matsoso to discuss the allegations and they had agreed that both countries' law enforcement agencies' intelligence structures would investigate the existence of such camps. Masemola said intelligence structures and operatives were on the ground to establish facts and urged South Africans not to panic as police from both countries were on high alert. In 2023, Lipholo tabled a motion for the kingdom to reclaim South African territory that purportedly belonged to Lesotho in precolonial days. At the time Lipholo declared: ' It's time for what is ours to be returned to us.' TimesLIVE
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MP charged for accusing Lesotho king of signing over country to South Africa
A Lesotho MP is facing criminal charges after he accused the country's monarch and government of signing over control of Lesotho to its much larger neighbour, South Africa. Dr Tshepo Lipholo also faces charges of "violating the dignity and reputation" of the royal family by declaring himself the chief ruler of the landlocked country. He reportedly appeared in court on Monday to apply for bail but this was postponed to a later date this month. The opposition MP has previously called for parts of South Africa to be declared "Lesotho's territory" and wants them returned to Lesotho's control, Among them is the Free State, one of the three South African provinces that share a border with the small southern African nation. Dr Lipholo is also laying claim to parts of the Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The people of Lesotho, called Basotho, lived in these areas until the 19th Century, when they were seized by Afrikaners - white South Africans. Many still live there, especially the Free State. Lesotho MP demands huge parts of South Africa Who benefits from Lesotho's 'white gold'? In the charge sheet, which the BBC has seen, the state accuses the lawmaker of "uttering seditious words" and "inciting public violence" by saying King Letsie III and the government had "signed [over] Lesotho to become the 10th South African province". These remarks were allegedly made between April and June 2025 on various social media platforms and radio interviews, according to the state. He is also accused of declaring himself the paramount chief of Basutoland, the country's colonial name, despite the king's presence. A retired army official, Major General Samuel Makoro, was also arrested on Friday for allegedly supporting Mr Lipholo and providing him with sensitive information. Dr Lipholo is the leader of the Basotho Covenant Movement (BCM), which has a single seat in parliament. His motion, which was previously debated in Lesotho's parliament, is based on a 1962 United Nations resolution that recognised the right to self-determination and independence for the people of Basutoland. The view from South African officials is that the motion to reclaim territories some Basotho view as their own does not stand a chance of happening, because it does not enjoy the support of the majority in Lesotho. One of the key stumbling blocks is the 1964 Cairo Declaration of the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, whereby African leaders agreed to recognise the existing borders of their newly independent countries, even if they were drawn up by colonial powers with little regard to where different ethnic groups lived, to avoid stirring up conflict across the continent. South Africa's foreign affairs ministry reaffirmed this view in response to a question in parliament earlier this year. Dr Lipholo has previously told Lesotho media that he also hopes to have the motion discussed in the British Parliament "since it was the UK that gave Lesotho its independence in 1966, without correcting the borders seized by the Afrikaners". According to a source, his legal team was given until 25 July 2025 to argue for bail. He remains in policy custody. Additional reporting by Pumza Fihlani Nine things about Lesotho - the country 'nobody has ever heard of' How jeans and diamonds pushed Lesotho to the top of Trump's tariffs list The small African country with the world's highest suicide rate Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Tshepo Lipholo charged after accusing king of selling Lesotho to South Africa
A Lesotho MP is facing criminal charges after he accused the country's monarch and government of signing over control of Lesotho to its much larger neighbour, South Tshepo Lipholo also faces charges of "violating the dignity and reputation" of the royal family by declaring himself the chief ruler of the landlocked reportedly appeared in court on Monday to apply for bail but this was postponed to a later date this opposition MP has previously called for parts of South Africa to be declared "Lesotho's territory" and wants them returned to Lesotho's control, Among them is the Free State, one of the three South African provinces that share a border with the small southern African nation. Dr Lipholo is also laying claim to parts of the Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and people of Lesotho, called Basotho, lived in these areas until the 19th Century, when they were seized by Afrikaners - white South Africans. Many still live there, especially the Free MP demands huge parts of South AfricaWho benefits from Lesotho's 'white gold'?In the charge sheet, which the BBC has seen, the state accuses the lawmaker of "uttering seditious words" and "inciting public violence" by saying King Letsie III and the government had "signed [over] Lesotho to become the 10th South African province". These remarks were allegedly made between April and June 2025 on various social media platforms and radio interviews, according to the is also accused of declaring himself the paramount chief of Basutoland, the country's colonial name, despite the king's presence.A retired army official, Major General Samuel Makoro, was also arrested on Friday for allegedly supporting Mr Lipholo and providing him with sensitive Lipholo is the leader of the Basotho Covenant Movement (BCM), which has a single seat in motion, which was previously debated in Lesotho's parliament, is based on a 1962 United Nations resolution that recognised the right to self-determination and independence for the people of view from South African officials is that the motion to reclaim territories some Basotho view as their own does not stand a chance of happening, because it does not enjoy the support of the majority in of the key stumbling blocks is the 1964 Cairo Declaration of the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, whereby African leaders agreed to recognise the existing borders of their newly independent countries, even if they were drawn up by colonial powers with little regard to where different ethnic groups lived, to avoid stirring up conflict across the Africa's foreign affairs ministry reaffirmed this view in response to a question in parliament earlier this Lipholo has previously told Lesotho media that he also hopes to have the motion discussed in the British Parliament "since it was the UK that gave Lesotho its independence in 1966, without correcting the borders seized by the Afrikaners".According to a source, his legal team was given until 25 July 2025 to argue for bail. He remains in policy reporting by Pumza Fihlani More BBC stories on Lesotho: Nine things about Lesotho - the country 'nobody has ever heard of'How jeans and diamonds pushed Lesotho to the top of Trump's tariffs listThe small African country with the world's highest suicide rate Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
