Tefo Tefo
Two senior lawyers, Advocate Sakoane Peter Sakoane (King’s Counsel) and Advocate Keketso Lesihla Moahloli, have been elevated to the High Court bench as acting judges.
In his speech during the swearing-in ceremony held on Tuesday this week, Acting Chief Justice Tšeliso Monaphathi said the move was meant to address the backlog of cases in the High Court.
After the pair’s engagement, the number of High Court judges has now increased to 12.
“The two will specifically assist in dealing with land disputes, which have been brought before the High Court at an alarming rate since the enactment of the Land Act of 2010.
“However, we may have a solution to this problem, and what we are praying for now is to have an increased number of judges to address this problem,” he said.
Justice Monaphathi also warned the new judges to be ready to deal with other cases involving political disputes because of the current, volatile political situation in Lesotho.
“You are getting into these positions at a very difficult time when there is great debate in our society,” he said.
Meanwhile, Advocate Sakoane KC has been a practicing lawyer in Lesotho for many years, while Advocate Moahloli was a lecturer at the University of Qwaqwa in South Africa prior to Tuesday’s appointment.
