Ntsebeng Motsoeli
RETIRED former South African Deputy Chief Justice, Dikgang Moseneke, is expected in the country on Wednesday for a two-day working visit to assess progress on the implementation of the multi-sector reforms.
The constitutional, security sector, judicial, media and governance reforms were recommended by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2016.
Justice Moseneke heads the SADC facilitation team to Lesotho which was appointed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in his capacity as the regional body’s mediator to Lesotho.
Foreign Affairs and International Relations Minister, ‘Matšepo Molise-Ramakoae, yesterday told the Sunday Express that during his two-day visit, Justice Moseneke would meet His Majesty King Letsie III, government leaders, the opposition, National Reforms Authority (NRA) officials and other stakeholders in the much-delayed reforms process.
Progress in implementing the reforms has been painstakingly slow since SADC recommended the reforms. There are only a few tangible achievements such as the district consultations in 2019 to solicit the ordinary people’s views on what should go into the reforms.
Other achievements are the holding of the multi-stakeholder dialogue and National Leaders’ Forum to discuss the inputs from the people in the different districts, also in 2019.
According to Ms Molise-Ramakoae, all these, especially the setting up of the NRA, represent serious progress towards the implementation of the reforms.
The NRA’s mandate is to coordinate and spearhead the implementation of the reforms.
“There is no extraordinary purpose for his (Moseneke)’s visit except to see the progress on the reforms,” Ms Molise-Ramakoae said.
“There is now progress because the NRA secretariat is taking shape with the appointment of the chief executive officer (Advocate Mafiroane Motanyane) and his deputy (Tšiu Khatibe) in September and October 2020 respectively.
“He (Moseneke) is scheduled to meet His Majesty the King (Letsie III), government leaders, the NRA and the opposition regarding the reforms.”
Justice Moseneke last visited the country in February this year to witness the swearing-in of opposition Basotho Democratic Nationals Party (BDNP) leader, Chief Pelele Letsoela, as NRA chairperson.
All in all, the NRA has 59 members representing various stakeholders in the reforms process including political parties and civic organisations.
After the appointment of the CEO and his deputy, the authority has turned its attention to recruiting the rest of the secretariat ahead of beginning its work.