28-07-2025
No evidence of Lesotho rebel army, says SAPS
SAPS says the country's intelligence structures have been investigating Lesotho's claims that there are illegal military camps on farms in South Africa.
Lesotho Commissioner of Police Borotho Matsoso had said the country was working closely with South African officials to investigate the camps.
SAPS said National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola had met with all nine provincial commissioners and Matsoso's claims were high on the agenda.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) says the country's intelligence structures have been investigating Lesotho's claims that there are illegal military camps on farms in South Africa training a rebel army. But the Hawks have yet to find any evidence of this, GroundUp reports.
This follows an extraordinary press briefing on 18 July by Lesotho's top security chiefs, who claimed that a rebel group known as Malata Naha is recruiting Basotho youth and providing military training in South Africa.
On Saturday, SAPS issued a statement after GroundUp reported that the South African authorities were mum on the allegations.
Previously, Lesotho Commissioner of Police Borotho Matsoso had said the country was working closely with South African officials to investigate the camps.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, through its Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit, has been roped in to investigate. Various searches have been undertaken by CATS at identified farms, and no such evidence has been found to date.
SAPS said National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola had met with all nine provincial commissioners and Matsoso's claims were high on the agenda. SAPS noted that a preliminary report from its Crime Intelligence Division was reviewed. Intelligence structures have heightened operations to verify the allegations.
In a further development, SAPS confirmed that Masemola has directly engaged with Matsoso. 'Both commissioners agreed that law enforcement intelligence structures from both countries are on the ground investigating the existence of such camps,' the statement read.
Masemola said: 'The safety and security of all people living in South Africa is of paramount importance, and anyone found committing illegal acts will face the full might of the law.'
The SAPS statement said South Africans are urged not to panic or worry as police from both countries remain on high alert and are working jointly to establish the facts on the ground.
