Pascalinah Kabi
MASERU — The Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC)’s office has been shut down following a High Court order that curtails its operations until the settlement of a case in which 14 commissioners are claiming unfair dismissal.
LSRC chief executive officer Kholoang Mokalanyane was forced to close down the offices on Monday because a High Court order of November 3 barred him from “interfering” with the commission’s finances until the matter was finalised.
The High Court is expected to pass judgment on Friday.
In a letter to the director of sports, dated November 9, Mokalanyane said it was impossible to run a commission without funds to meet day-to-day expenses.
Mokalanyane was unable get funds from the LSRC accounts department because of the order issued against him and the Ministry of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation, which fired the commissioners last month.
“As a result of the court order, the commission is unable to continue with operations because all instrumental parties are hand-tied and nothing goes,” Mokalanyane said in the letter.
“At the moment, we cannot replenish petrol, electricity, water or any other services required.
“Based on the above, we have no option but to close the office immediately, until after November 20, 2009.”
Meanwhile, the Lesotho Amateur Athletics Association’s spokesperson, Sejanamane Maphathe, said the decision to close down the office had inconvenienced his organisation.
“The security officer at the gates has been instructed not to allow anybody to enter the offices,” Maphathe told the Sunday Express yesterday.
“As a result, we cannot give permits to our athletes who want to participate in tomorrow’s Durban Marathon, because the stamps are in the LSRC office.”
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