Moorosi Tsiane
A chilling account of how a suspected serial killer used Facebook to lure women to their deaths has unfolded in the High Court in Maseru.
Justice Tšeliso Mokoko heard the disturbing testimony on Thursday in the ongoing murder trial of Lehlohonolo Masoleng.
Masoleng (30) from Mohale’s Hoek, is accused of murdering three women; Matšepo Likotsi of Mapoteng in Berea, Maletsema Foka of Nazareth in Maseru and Kefuoe Moretlo of Mohale’s Hoek, between February and April 2024.
Police Constable (PC) Relebohile Thamae, the Crown’s seventh witness, testified that residents of Rantalenyane in Mohale’s Hoek reported a strange, foul smell coming from nearby fields. When police arrived and began digging, they discovered the decomposed body of a woman later identified as Kefuoe Moretlo.
According to PC Thamae, Masoleng posed as a recruiter on Facebook, using fake job offers to lure his victims. Two weeks after Moretlo’s body was found, police discovered another corpse, that of Matšepo Likotsi, which led investigators directly to Masoleng. He was arrested on 5 April 2024.
During police questioning, Masoleng allegedly confessed to having killed a third woman and told police where they could find her body.
“When we got to the location he described — a donga in a jungle not far from where Likotsi was found — he began digging and uncovered two bags,” PC Thamae told the court.
“The first bag contained unidentifiable documents which he said belonged to Kefuoe Moretlo. We then asked about the second bag, and he said it belonged to another woman he had killed, Maletsema Foka. Inside we found a passport and birth certificate.”
PC Thamae also said Masoleng then led police to a nearby area, pointing to a spot under a pile of rocks.
“We asked the villagers who had gathered there to help us remove the rocks. That is when we saw bones, with red and white fabric still clinging to parts of the hands and legs. I called my superiors and we were told to cover the remains until a pathologist could examine them.”
He said the next day, on 9 April 2024, pathologist Lefatle Phakoana arrived at the scene to conduct the forensic examination.
“When we returned with Dr Phakoana, the villagers were already at the site. They helped us dig again. The skull still had some hair. The deceased’s family had been notified and was present. They brought a car to collect the remains. They were able to identify the corpse based on the clothing remnants. Once Dr Phakoana completed his examination, the remains were released to the family, and we took Masoleng back into custody,” PC Thamae said.
He further testified that after recovering the bodies, Masoleng led police to his house, where he pointed out two cellphones and three bank cards hidden above a wardrobe. These, he said, belonged to his victims.
“At the house, we found his wife and children. He directed us to one of the rooms, climbed up to the top of a wardrobe, and retrieved the phones and the cards. The bank cards belonged to Maletsema.”
The court also heard that Kefuoe Moretlo’s body was later buried in Braakfontein in Mohale’s Hoek, after her family explained they did not have the means to transport her remains home.
The case is being prosecuted by Advocate Lehlanako Mofilikoane, while one Adv Masoabi is representing Masoleng.
The trial continues.