…from fear to a beacon of community safety
Kabelo Masoabi
IN the northern reaches of Lesotho’s Leribe District lies St. Monica’s — a name that, not so long ago, sent shivers down the spines of residents across the region.
For years, the cluster of four communities — Ha Jeremea, Ha ’Matau, Barete and Popopo — that constitute St Monica’s village was synonymous with violent crime, ritual killings and lawlessness. Families lived behind locked doors. Civil servants sought transfers. Homes were abandoned. Fear was not an occasional visitor; it was a permanent resident.
Today, the story of St. Monica’s reads very differently. Through collective action, sustained government intervention and a revival of cultural identity, the area has transformed itself into one of Leribe’s most striking examples of community-led renewal.
A community once under siege
Two decades ago, crime in St. Monica’s was not isolated — it was entrenched. Robberies, housebreakings, sexual violence and brutal murders occurred with alarming regularity.
The violence cut across social lines, claiming the lives of teachers, students, factory employees, children and the elderly.
At Holy Family High School, at least four teachers were killed over the years. Among them was Tokelo Moqosi, who was ambushed in 2020 in Barete village and fatally struck on the head with a stone by an unidentified assailant hiding in nearby trees. To this day, the motive for the attack remains unknown.
In a separate incident months later, another educator, Kanono Maphalala — a newly appointed teacher — was gunned down during an aggravated robbery at the school’s teachers’ quarters. Despite investigations, no arrests were made in either case.
One of the most gruesome crimes involved two pupils from St. Monica’s Primary School and their grandmother, Mamputlane Rapalo, a respected member of the local Roman Catholic Church.
The trio were murdered sometime before 2015 in their Popopo village home. The children’s bodies were later discovered stuffed into suitcases and dumped in the Khomokhoana River.
The killings triggered national outrage. Senior government officials, including then Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing, attended the funeral — a stark reflection of the gravity of the tragedy.
Two suspects were eventually arrested, but the trauma of the incident lingers in the collective memory of the community.
Elsewhere, ritual killings added another layer of terror. Teenage boy Fonti Maome from Ha ’Matau was murdered near his home, his heart removed in what police described as a ritual attack. The perpetrators were later apprehended.
Women were particularly vulnerable. Textile factory workers commuting from Maputsoe were frequently attacked while returning home. Some were strangled and dumped in open fields; others fell victim to knife attacks, gun violence and domestic abuse. Criminal rivalries and envy further fuelled the bloodshed.
From prayer to patrols
As the death toll mounted, the congregation at St. Monica’s Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church turned to prayer, organising spiritual gatherings in search of divine intervention.
But prayer alone would not restore order.
Frustrated residents began mobilising, forming community policing forums in each village. Volunteers organised night patrols to curb theft and break-ins. While these efforts yielded modest gains, more complex crimes — particularly gender-based violence and domestic abuse — proved harder to uproot.
Community leaders intensified their calls for government support. After years of persistent appeals, a breakthrough finally came.
The turning point
In 2019, a police satellite post was established in St. Monica’s — a development widely regarded as a watershed moment.
Area councillor Samuel Makatse, now in his third term of office, has described the facility’s evolution into a fully fledged police station as transformative.
Operating 24 hours a day, the station serves 26 surrounding villages, allowing residents to report crimes promptly and improving access to law enforcement services.
The station was constructed on land donated by St. Monica’s Cathedral, marking a significant partnership between the church and the community. At one point, the facility was deliberately set alight by an unidentified intruder, but it was later repaired and restored with support from local businesses.
“The presence of a 24-hour police station changed everything. People no longer feel abandoned,” Mr Makatse said.
He noted that officers conduct regular village outreach programmes, encouraging cooperation with law enforcement and strengthening community policing structures.
“Although the station still requires additional funding to expand its services, its impact has been tangible. Murders, robberies and housebreakings have significantly declined,” he added.
Mr Makatse also said poverty had once driven many petty crimes — food theft, stolen cash and household goods sold for survival. Gradually, he explained, improved stability has begun shifting those dynamics.
He highlighted the installation of high-mast street lights as another critical deterrent. Night-time robberies, once common, have virtually disappeared.
In addition, community policing forums are awaiting two-way radios to improve rapid response coordination, while targeted conferences for men, women and youth continue to address crime prevention through dialogue and awareness.
Stability attracts investment
As security improved, development followed. New residential homes have sprung up, while private health centres and accommodation facilities have opened. Small business complexes are emerging, and upgraded roads have improved emergency response times and connectivity.
“No one wants to invest in a place where crime is a daily concern. Investment flows where safety and stability are guaranteed,” Mr Makatse said.
He warned that insecurity traps communities in cycles of stagnation.
“When investors withhold capital, job opportunities shrink. When families feel unsafe, community life weakens.”
According to him, renewed stability has also attracted new residents whose presence has helped shift social dynamics and reduce aggressive behaviour.
“It is the responsibility of those who are integrated to promote social cohesion. The duty of the civilised is to civilise the uncivilised.”
Strengthening community trust
Station Commander, Inspector ‘Mamarumo Matela, underscored the importance of fostering a shared understanding of the law between police and the community.
She said that upon their arrival, officers encountered significant hostility, making it extremely difficult to obtain critical information.
To address this, the station implemented strategic interventions to rebuild trust and strengthen collaboration. These included revitalising community policing forums, participating actively in local initiatives, and holding regular meetings with community institutions to exchange ideas on effective crime-prevention strategies.
Through these efforts, the station curtailed drug use among students and apprehended individuals involved in the sale of illegal substances, including dagga, particularly within hostel environments.
Insp Matela noted a marked shift in community relations. Residents who once remained silent out of fear now report suspicious activities without concern for retaliation.
She emphasised that a central objective over the past six years has been to reposition the police as partners and allies rather than adversaries.
In recognition of these achievements, the St. Monica’s Community Policing Forum received a national award from the Lesotho Mounted Police Service last year, earning recognition as the country’s best policing forum.
Rebuilding identity
While law enforcement has played a central role, local leaders stress that lasting peace requires more than patrols.
Insp Matela advocates for a holistic approach that prioritises culture, youth development and grassroots engagement.
“Strong communities protect themselves,” Insp Matela said.
Villagers now contribute funds toward community projects and host award ceremonies celebrating the achievements of local policing forums. These gatherings provide platforms for residents and officers to assess crime trends and refine collaborative strategies.
Cultural revival has also emerged as a powerful unifying force. The chieftaincy of Popopo village hosts an annual cultural festival celebrating Basotho traditions on Independence Day.
According to Chief Mabohlokoa Ramohanoe of Popopo, the event promotes intergenerational dialogue, mutual respect and a shared commitment to sustaining peace. Community members say the resurgence of cultural pride has helped repair bonds once fractured by violence.
For Mokabo Raselemane of Kholokoe village, which also falls under the St. Monica’s policing area, the change is unmistakable.
“Those who used to terrorise us are either in prison or have left,” he said.