Mohloai Mpesi
HIS Majesty King Letsie III went down memory lane while reminiscing on the vital role the late Advocate Haae Phoofolo KC played in the early 90s when the nation was going through a difficult time.
Speaking at the state funeral of Adv Phoofolo KC on Friday at Maseru Club, King Letsie III recalled how they both engaged in a most “mischievous adventure” to salvage the difficult situation obtaining between 1990 to 1994.
He said when the country was going through the most difficult time, him, Adv Phoofolo and others embarked on what he termed the “mischievous adventure” to salvage the situation.??
“As a nation, we went through many phases in our history. Some of them were nice while others were difficult. Most of you will remember that as a nation, as a family, we passed through a difficult time as a country from 1990 until the beginning of 1995.
“Those problems, we tried to solve them. We fought in many different ways, but we were unsuccessful, until we resolved to try other strategies in order to overcome these problems.
“I, Adv Phoofolo, and others went on a mischievous adventure in 1994. Trying to solve this problem,” he said.
He recalled how they were severely reproached by both local leaders and those from outside the country but in the end their “mischievous adventure” ended up solving the predicament.
“In that mischievous adventure we were harshly reprimanded, me, Adv Phoofolo and others by doing that action. We obeyed and heeded to the reproach, and that adventure was short lived.
“That adventure, mischievous as it was, helped achieve what we wanted to end up happening. Indeed, I stand here to remember the part in that Adv Phoofolo played… It was an initiative of trying to correct the situation of this country.
“I want to thank him because within that short time of three weeks, the most difficult time ever, we would not have survived if it wasn’t for the support from Adv Phoofolo and others. But the important thing is that we managed to overcome that problem in January 1995 when governance issues on the level of His Majesty (Botlotlehi) returned to where we wanted,” he said.
He added: “Adv Phoofolo played a vital role which I will never forget on those issues. Therefore, I would like to thank him, his family and God who guided us and strengthened us during those difficult times that we faced.”
Although the King did not disclose what the “adventure” they both embarked on was, history records that Adv Phoofolo was Lesotho’s interim Prime Minister for a short period from August 17 to September 14, 1994.
For 28 days, he guided Lesotho through a fragile period of uncertainty, restoring a measure of order and stability.
Adv Phoofolo KC, a former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, was a renowned financial expert, legal practitioner and statesman born in Ladybrand, Republic of South Africa on the 12th?of December 1947 to an Anglican Priest Reverend Canon Khobotle Vincent Phoofolo and ‘Me’ ‘Ma-Haae Phoofolo.
He succumbed to cancer on the morning of the 20th?of August 2025 at Lehlakeng Hospital.
His Majesty recalled ?Adv Phoofolo as a man who loved dressing well, trained to keep fit and was committed to his professional job as a lawyer.
“Those who passed their condolences spoke of things I know about Adv Phoofolo, therefore, I don’t want to repeat them. I want to say that I also saw them, and I know them from sports, his training and his work as a lawyer, as well as his time as Attorney General.
“Adv Phoofolo was a person who liked dressing well, from when he was a manager of the Lesotho Monetary Authority, which is now the Central Bank of Lesotho.
“Adv Phoofolo, you worked for this country and the nation with all the commitment, and we have no doubts about that,” he said.
Adv Phoofolo’s wife, ‘Mantai Phoofolo explained that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, after which his health quickly deteriorated.
“Three years ago, we saw a deterioration of his health. This year, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After he was told the results, I saw his health quickly deteriorating.
She said Adv Phoofolo had been taken to Mamohato Memorial Hospital (MMH) after they realised that his medical situation was worsening.
“One night I heard a sound in the house, when I switched on the light, I realised he had fallen on the passage, between our bedroom and toilet. I called?(Thabo) to come and help me get him up.
“The following day I took him to T?epong (Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital), where they stabilised him before releasing him….”
She said he deteriorated further and they ?took him to Lehlakeng Hospital where doctors confirmed that his illness was critical. He was confirmed dead on the morning of the 20th?of August 2025.
Education??
His early education commenced at Ha-Mokhehle where he pursued his Grade A and B. He then proceeded to St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Butha-Bothe and later completed his high school at St. Stephen’s Anglican High School, Mohale’s Hoek.
In 1969, Adv Phoofolo went on to earn an LLB degree from University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland and later graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1974. In 1977 he obtained a Master of Science degree majoring in Banking and Money Management from Adelphi University, New York, United States of America.
In 1979 he was joined in holy matrimony with Nt?ebo Lerotholi, daughter of the late Morena Thabo and Mofumahali ‘Maliako Lerotholi. This holy union bore him three sons named Ntai, Khobotle and Thabo.
His professional and political experience was a mix of both triumph and tragedy. He was admitted to practice as an Advocate of the High Court and Court of Appeal of Lesotho in 1974 and in 1978 was admitted as an Attorney, Conveyancer and Notary Public in the same jurisdiction.
In 1994 and following the democratic dispensation in the Republic of South Africa, he was also admitted as an Attorney, Conveyancer and Notary Public in the Supreme Court of South Africa.
Adv Phoofolo KC proceeded to establish himself as a fierce human rights lawyer both in the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa – one of his rare and commendable attributes.
From 1977 to 1981, he held the position of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions. He later became ?Assistant Deputy Governor at the Lesotho Monetary Authority (now the Central Bank) between the years 1981 to 1983, before being elevated to the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Lesotho between 1983-1986.
Adv Phoofolo started private practice in 1986 as a legal practitioner and established himself as a fierce human rights advocate and criminal and constitutional law expert.
In 2012 he was elected as a member of parliament for the Maseru Constituency under the All Basotho Convention (ABC) banner and was subsequently appointed ?Minister of Justice, Law and Constitutional Affairs, a position he held for three years. His last official role serving His Majesty’s Government was as Attorney General until 2021.
After a long and illustrious service to His Majesty’s Government and the Kingdom of Lesotho he retired from both private legal practice and as a civil servant.
Advocate Phoofolo K.C is survived by his wife, ‘M’e ‘Mantai, his three sons, four grandchildren and his siblings, Pule, Chaka, and Philip.
He leaves a legacy of profound and respected service to His Majesty, and the Kingdom.