’Marafaele Mohloboli

THE long-awaited search for three corpses allegedly thrown into the Mohale Dam is set to resume tomorrow after it was indefinitely postponed early this month.

The search for the bodies of Lekhoele Noko, Molise Pakela and Khothatso Makibinyane is being conducted by a team of divers from the South African Police Services (SAPS) in collaboration with the Special Operations Unit (SOU).

They combed the deep waters of the Mohale Dam for two days in search of the bodies early this month before suspending operations due to bad weather.

The trio who are believed to be deceased are alleged to have been killed by army officers who had kidnapped them after their release by the police, following an interrogation into a shooting that ensued at the Maseru border gate on 13 May this year, which claimed the lives of an army officer and a street vendor.

Their bodies are alleged to have been dumped in the Mohale Dam afterwards.

Nine army officers, namely, Sergeant Lekhooa Moepi (43), Captain Mahlehle Moeletsi (50), Lance Corporal Mahlomola Makhoali (32), Private Nthatakane Motanyane (24), Brigadier Rapele Mphaki (47), Motšoane Machai (39), Liphapang Sefako (48), Nemase Faso (28) and Private Tieho Tikiso (28) have since been charged for the trio’s murder and remain in custody until their next court appearance on 31 October, 2017.

After postponing the search, the SAPS team returned to South Africa to procure more equipment and beef up personnel, amid indications that they found the dam to be deeper than they had anticipated.

Police spokesperson, Inspector Mpiti Mopeli, told this publication that, “the operation is expected to resume on Monday (tomorrow) and hopefully they (the SAPS team) have procured all the necessary equipment and have increased their numbers”.

“Up until now there have not been more arrests pertaining to this matter,” Inspector Mopeli added.

Mohale Dam is located on the Senqu Nyane River, 100 km east of Maseru and the bodies are believed to have dumped off a spot on the bridge between the Ha Montši and Ha Korporala villages.