Staff Reporter
PROMINENT lawyer Advocate Thulo Hoeane says he had to run for cover from a marauding mob of suspected All Basotho Convention (ABC) supporters at the Court of Appeal on Friday night.
Adv Hoeane had no kinds words for the police details at the court, saying it was “despicable that they stood idly by and actually laughed” as he was accosted by the angry mob who threatened to assault him and destroy his car for representing some ABC members in their quest to have the party’s 1 and 2 February elective conference nullified.
Adv Hoeane appeared at the Court of Appeal to represent his clients, Motseki Lefera, ’Matumisang Ntiisa and Martha Makhohlisa, who were on 8 May, granted an order nullifying the outcome of the February conference which ushered in Professor Nqosa Mahao and others into the ABC’s national executive committee (NEC).
Acting Chief Justice ’Maseforo Mahase granted the controversial order after the trio had filed an application seeking the nullification of the elective conference on the grounds that the ABC constitution allegedly did not provide for the holding of such elections.
The judgement attracted widespread criticism because Prof Mahao and the rest of the new NEC were not cited in the trio’s court application. The verdict was also criticised over the veil of secrecy that surrounded it as the case was heard in chambers by Justice Mahase who had constantly failed to preside on another similar application against the outcome of the ABC conference on the grounds that she was ill.
The other application which is still pending was brought before Justice Mahase on 11 February by the trio of ABC legislators, Habofanoe Lehana (Khafung), Keketso Sello (Hlotse) and Mohapi Mohapinyane (Rothe).
Despite him eventually agreeing to the rescission of Justice Mahase’s order on Friday, the suspected pro-Mahao supporters were still resentful at Adv Hoeane for his role in the 8 May order that was granted by Justice Mahase.
“I must say that I am not all pleased with the police for their despicable conduct,” Adv Hoeane told the Sunday Express yesterday.
“When I finally made my way of out Friday night’s court proceedings I found this unruly mob, most likely Mahao supporters, waiting for me. They threatened to beat me up and destroy my car. All this happened in the presence of the police officers who did nothing but just laugh.
“The conduct of the police officers was despicable. I was forced to wait for more than an hour in the court premises after the proceedings to escape the mob,” Adv Hoeane said.
He however, said the incident would not stop him from performing his professional duties to the best of his abilities.