. . . ducks imminent dismissal to save terminal benefits
Mathatisi Sebusi
Lesotho Correctional Services (LCS) boss, Mating Nkakala, who has been under fire for running the country’s prison system into the ground and was on the verge of being fired for incompetence, has stepped down on early retirement.
The decision enables him to keep his terminal benefits – which he would have lost had he been fired.
Minister of Law and Justice, Richard Ramoeletsi, confirmed this development in an interview with the Sunday Express on Friday but said that Mr Nkakala did not give reasons for his abrupt decision to retire early.
Mr Ramoeletsi said Mr Nkakala submitted the request to go on early retirement after failing to respond to a show cause letter served to him two weeks ago.
The letter had asked Mr Nkakala to explain why the Prime Minister should not advise His Majesty King Letsie III to dismiss him for incompetence.
While Mr Ramoeletsi refused to discuss the contents of the show cause letter in detail, he revealed that it was prompted by the?Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Escape of Inmates from Maseru Central Correctional Institution, 2025. The report had been scathing against Mr Nkakala whom it had described as being unfit for purpose.
Minister Ramoeletsi had said he had already begun implementing some of the report’s recommendations. The minister’s kickstarting of the process to dismiss Commissioner Nkakala appeared to have directly emanated from the report’s recommendations.
Retirement benefits
Mr Matingoe Phamotse assumed the role of Acting LCS Commissioner on Thursday, replacing Mr Nkakala temporarily.
“He did not say why he chose to go on early retirement, but it happened before he could respond to the (show cause) letter. Without delving into the contents of that letter, I can say its reasons are contained in the report of the Commission of Inquiry,” Mr Ramoeletsi said.
A source close to the matter told the Sunday Express that Mr Nkakala had been advised to opt for early retirement to avoid being fired and forfeiting his benefits in the process. His dismissal was imminent after he had been served with the show cause letter, the source said.
The Sunday Express understands that Commissioner Nkakala was going to be dismissed for incompetence. The Commission had issued a scathing report against Commissioner Nkakala, going as far as stating that he was a political appointee, wholly unfit for the job.
He was appointed in 2021 by then Law and Justice Minister, Professor Nqosa Mahao, after the dismissal of former Commissioner Thabang Mothepu.
The commission’s report, tabled before parliament last Wednesday, described Commissioner Nkakala as “unfit to run the LCS”.
Cadre deployment
According to the report, Nkakala was a beneficiary of “cadre deployment” rather than merit.
“Evidence revealed that whenever there is a change in government, a new Commissioner is usually appointed. Since 2012, almost all Commissioners have not completed their terms of office, as changes in government often led to their replacement.
“LCS officials expected that the incumbent Commissioner would have long been removed, given that he was not appointed by the current administration,” the report states.
Commissioner Nkakala himself admitted before the commission that his appointment was not transparent and that he had skipped two ranks to be appointed, an unusual development in the appointment process.
“The incumbent Commissioner confirmed that his appointment was not transparent and that he skipped two ranks when he was elevated. He was holding the rank of Assistant Commissioner. He skipped the ranks of Senior Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.”
According to the report, Commissioner Nkakala had admitted that his appointment was not well received within the LCS and his relationship with his deputies had been marred by mistrust and lack of cooperation.
“His leadership lacks the necessary courage and firmness. As a result, he struggles with even basic issues. For example, he gave in to pressure from Deputy Commissioner of Corrections (DCC) Tšolo and his team to transfer Correctional Officer Ratšele from the Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI), even though he believed Ratšele should have faced disciplinary action for serious misconduct.”
The commission concluded that Commissioner Nkakala was incompetent to lead the LCS and had failed to develop a clear vision for the institution.
“The Commissioner has been in office for two years but has not developed strategies or policies as required by the LCS Act. There are no strategic initiatives in place. Consequently, there are no structured performance or management meetings, and senior officers feel sidelined.
“The Commissioner’s excuse for not having senior management meetings was that there are cliques that are obstructive in meetings. The Commissioner did not appear to be bothered that he does not have senior management meetings.
“It is either the Commissioner does not embrace constructive disagreements, or he is not able to reign over his officers.
“He was not ready to lead an organisation of the LCS’s magnitude at the time of his appointment. He has leadership gaps to address to lead effectively.”
Prison break
On 21 December 2023, six inmates escaped from MCCI.
Tumelo Mpopo, Bokang Molengoane, Seboka Motumi, Rethabile Tlali, Aumane Nkoale, and Bokang Tsoako were later tracked down and recaptured between December 2023 and January 2024 in Maseru, Ramabanta, Qacha’s Nek, and in Bloemfontein, South Africa, before they were returned to MCCI custody.
Tsoako, who was recaptured on 22 December 2023 at Ha ’Mamochochoko Orphanage in Maseru, was brutally assaulted upon his return to MCCI and later died from the injuries.
The six were among the 626 inmates who were assaulted, some with planks embedded with nails, raising fears of HIV transmission. The assault happened as LCS officers tried to extract information about the prison break.
Tsoako’s death
The Commission’s report depicted a harrowing account of Tsoako’s final hours.
“. . . this callous attack took place while Mr Tsoako was already restrained, and corrections officers were having complete control over him. His plea for forgiveness from the time he was recaptured fell on deaf ears. A serious trouble started the moment the motor vehicle that fetched him from his hideout stopped at the MCCI around 15h09. Some members of the search team assaulted him as he alighted the motor vehicle.
The report states that as soon as Mr Tsoako alighted from the vehicle all “hell broke loose” as a horde of officers descended on him “like a swarm of bees”, shoving him to the Sergeants’ Office where the assault continued until he lay helplessly in the office.
“The?corrections?officers left Mr Tsoako lying on the floor and bleeding from the mouth once they were done assaulting him. Part of his backbone or a rib was protruding on his back. His chances of survival were slim. He was later taken to Queen II Hospital where he could not get help as they arrived after hours.”
The Commission had strongly criticized Commissioner Nkakala’s handling of Mr Tsoako’s death, noting that the killing was not reported to the police immediately after it happened in violation of the law.
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“Contrary to the Commissioner’s evidence that Mr Tsoako’s death was reported to the police immediately, the information from the police docket is that Mr Tsoako’s death was reported to the police on 27 December 2023 by Sgt Thabelo Lesema. And that the police proceeded to the Lesotho Funeral Services mortuary to examine the body on the same day. In terms of section 2(2) of the Inquest Proclamation, the LCS officials committed an offence by failing to report Mr Tsoako’s death immediately.”
Commissioner Nkakala’s phone was not reachable when?Sunday Express?repeatedly tried to contact him.
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TV Sets
Following publication of the Commission’s report, the?Lesotho Times?reported that Commissioner Nkakala was caught in another scandal of which?the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) had begun investigations.
Commissioner Nkakala had allegedly stolen three television sets donated by Maseru Toyota for use by prisoners. He had allegedly given them to a girlfriend.
The story nonetheless irked the DCEO which arrested?Lesotho Times?Editor, Mohalenyane ?Phakela on August 29, 2025, and kept him overnight on the concrete floor of a dingy cell.
He was accused of “impersonating” a DCEO officer to get a copy of a letter the DCEO had written to Maseru Toyota inquiring about the donation. Mr Phakela and the?Lesotho Times?dismissed the DCEO’s allegations as absolute trash. ?
It remains to be seen whether the DCEO will proceed to prosecute Mr Nkakala for the alleged theft of the Maseru Toyota donation.?