Staff Reporter
THE Independent Democratic Union of Lesotho (IDUL), which represents numerous textile workers nationwide, has distanced itself from reports alleging verbal abuse of its members by the management of Presitex Enterprises.
IDUL is pursuing disciplinary action against its Deputy Secretary General, Clark Letsie, who is accused of jeopardising over 2000 jobs at Presitex.
According to IDUL President ’Manthabiseng Khemane and Secretary General May Rathakane, Mr Letsie acted without authorisation in handling the verbal abuse allegations. They suspect he may have been pursuing other external people’s agendas.
“Firstly, we firmly oppose unfair labour practices and are committed to protecting our members,” Mr Rathakane told the Lesotho Times.
“When issues arise, we engage employers to seek amicable solutions, resorting to legal action only as a last resort.”
Mr Rathakane condemned Mr Letsie’s approach, stating that they never authorised him to speak about that issue. They were not even aware of the Presitex matter.
“He unilaterally addressed the Presitex matter, leaking it to the media and alerting Presitex’s buyers before fully investigating the claims. Such actions risk buyers pulling out, endangering already scarce textile jobs. Mr Letsie had no mandate to represent IDUL or the workers in this case. His role focuses on mining issues, not textiles, making his involvement highly irregular.”
Mr Rathakane emphasised Presitex’s importance, calling it a beacon of hope in a struggling industry.
“With so many factories closing post-COVID-19, Presitex represents a promising future. Damaging its reputation could jeopardise over 2000 jobs.”
He extended an apology to Presitex and its buyers, assuring them that disciplinary measures against Mr Letsie were underway.
Despite the apology, IDUL maintains that the verbal abuse claims are being pursued.
“After the confrontation at Presitex in October, two of our members were dismissed. We challenged their termination at the Directorate on Disputes Prevention and Resolution (DDPR) and are considering court action over the alleged abuse. Our legal team is currently reviewing the case,” Mr Rathakane said, with Ms Khemane echoing his sentiments.
Presitex is currently under the care of liquidator Kenneth Hlasa, appointed by the Master of the High Court in June after former director, Madhav Vasant Dalvi, allegedly orchestrated its liquidation by fabricating debts. Dalvi remains a fugitive from justice as he was in May this year charged for defrauding Presitex and its mother company, CGM Group, of almost M1 billion.
Mr Hlasa dismissed the abuse allegations, citing an internal investigation that found no evidence against the interim factory manager, Krishna Moodley.
“An internal investigation found no evidence to support these claims. To ensure transparency, we have installed and upgraded surveillance cameras throughout the factory. For example, Mr Moodley’s movements are closely monitored to pre-empt false accusations.
“One notable incident involved the dismissal of a worker who insulted and physically threatened Mr Moodley. The young man, physically capable and intimidating, displayed behaviour entirely inappropriate toward someone who could be his grandfather. The dismissal, executed in accordance with labour laws and company policies, was necessary to maintain respect and order,” Mr Hlasa said.
Mr Moodley, who returned to Lesotho to rebuild Presitex, expressed his commitment to restoring its former glory.
“When I left in 2010, Presitex employed over 10,000 people. Seeing it reduced to just 700 was disheartening. I took on a hands-on approach, training workers and supervisors to rebuild the factory.”
He lamented the opposition to his efforts.
“Unfortunately, our achievements have met resistance from certain quarters, including individuals tied to the previous management. These detractors seem intent on undermining our progress and perpetuating negative narratives, despite the significant growth in both workforce and productivity.
“I came to Lesotho not because I needed employment but to restore the legacy I had helped build years ago. Seeing a factory that once employed 10 000 people shrink to just 700 motivated me to act. My goal has always been to create jobs—jobs that are vital for the Basotho people.
At 70, Mr Moodley remains focused on creating jobs.
“Time is limited. I wish to spend the remaining years of my active career creating opportunities for the Basotho people before returning to my family and enjoying retirement. Lesotho’s unique advantages, such as the ability to set up and operationalize departments swiftly, must be harnessed to rebuild the local textile industry.
“I remain hopeful that our momentum will continue and that the opportunities lost by 10 000 to 15 000 people in the past can be restored, filling these factories with productive activity once again,” Mr Moodley said.
