…as DPP is still locked out of office
TEN days after the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) nullified her suspension, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Advocate Hlalefang Motinyane remains locked out of her office — a glaring act of defiance by Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s administration.
Adv Motinyane’s 24 June 2025 suspension by the Prime Minister was last week declared unlawful by a full bench of the ConCourt, in a case filed on her behalf by the Law Society of Lesotho (LSL).
The Court ruled that the Prime Minister had no authority to suspend the DPP. Despite that ruling, when Adv Motinyane reported for duty on Friday, she found her office still locked.
When this publication visited her offices at the Government Complex before going to print last night, the DPP’s office remained inaccessible — in what constitutes a direct breach of the ConCourt order issued by Justices Realeboha Mathaba, Mafelile Ralebese, and Itumeleng Shale.
While the government continues to defy the court’s directive, Adv Motinyane has been forced to operate from a colleague’s office.
“Since Monday, I have been working from Prosecutor Lehlohonolo Phooko’s office,” she confirmed.
The Law Society has repeatedly urged the government to comply with the court order, but its calls have gone unheeded as the DPP remains barred from her office.
Adding to her ordeal, Adv Motinyane revealed that her security detail was withdrawn soon after her suspension.
“The LDF Commander, Lt-Gen Mojalefa Letsoela, recalled my two bodyguards without any explanation. That left me exposed, and since then I have received several threats against my life. I tried to reach him and he promised to meet me, but that never happened. For now, I won’t divulge further details for my safety,” she said.
The decision to strip her of security protection underscores what observers have described as a vindictive campaign against her. Even if her suspension had been lawful, she remains a senior state officer entitled to all privileges and security until her lawful removal from office.
Government spokesperson, Thabo Sekonyela, confirmed that the government was considering appealing the ConCourt judgment.
However, legal experts argue that unless and until the ruling is overturned, the government is bound to comply — making its continued defiance a potential constitutional crisis.