. . . as PM’s partner holds thanksgiving service
Boitumelo Koloi
Maseru
Investigations into the January 27 attacks on the homes of Police Commissioner Khothatso Tšooana and Liabiloe Ramoholi are at an advanced stage, government officials said yesterday.
Although the two homes are kilometres apart, the attacks appeared to have been carried out by the same assailants because of the way they were executed.
Police spokesperson Lebona Mohloboli had earlier said the shrapnel of the devices used in both inci¬dents looked similar.
Preliminary indications suggested the attacks were so well-executed there was good reason to believe highly skilled personnel were behind the assaults.
However, Maseru Urban District Commissioner of Police, Mofokeng Kolo, yesterday assured guests gathered at the Moshoeshoe II home of Ramoholi — who is Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s partner — that the
police had made “considerable progress” in their investigations.
Ramoholi held a thanksgiving ceremony which attracted scores of high-ranking government officials, including Thabane, as well as family and friends.
Although Kolo could not reveal the finer details of what the police had already uncovered, he assured the nation that the perpetrators of the “monstrous acts” would soon be brought to book.
“We have already established something from the investigations conducted working with our South African colleagues. However, I’m not yet in a position to tell you in detail what happened for security reasons,” Kolo
said.
Meanwhile, Social Development Minister, ‘Matebatso Doti, also reiterated Kolo’s remarks, adding government would not tolerate violence against its citizens.
“We, as the government, will not tolerate such actions. We have no time to play games in such matters,” Doti said.
Ramoholi has persistently refused to be drawn into discussing who could be behind the attack, and why she could have been targeted.
In the case of Tšooana, speculation has been rife he could have been targeted by people angered by his recent promotion to Police Commissioner over more senior officers. He has also refused to discuss the issue.