Hopolang Mokhopi
DECEASED former Minister of Police and Public Safety Lepota Sekola’s ex-wife is locked in a fierce legal battle with his widow over the inheritance of his estate.
Khasiane Ramathe, who was married to Mr Sekola from February 2014 until April 2022 when they divorced, claims she is entitled to half of his estate.
She argues that the Master of the High Court cannot proceed with the administration of the estate before she receives her 50 percent share.
Ms Ramathe says she approached the courts after the Master of the High Court insisted on proceeding with the administration of the estate despite objections she raised at a meeting held on 5 January 2026 at the Master of the High Court’s offices in Maseru.
At that meeting, she formally objected to the administration of the estate.
Mr Sekola’s widow, Mathabang Sekola, Executor – Estate of late Lepota Sekola, the Master of the High Court and Attorney General Advocate Rapelang Motsieloa KC are cited as the first to fourth respondents, respectively, in Ms Ramathe’s application.
She intends to move the matter on an urgent basis before the High Court tomorrow.
“At the time the decree of divorce was granted, the joint estate was not divided between myself (Ramathe) and the deceased (Mr Sekola), such division being deferred to a later date,” Ms Ramathe states in her founding affidavit.
“Prior to the division of the joint estate, and while the proprietary consequences of the marriage in community of property remained unresolved, the deceased unfortunately passed away in November 2025.
“As a result, the joint estate remained undivided at the time of his death.
“Subsequent to the death of the deceased, the first respondent (Mathabang), who alleges to be a spouse of the deceased, reported the estate of the deceased to the third respondent (the Master) for purposes of administration.
“A meeting was held at the offices of the second respondent on 22 December 2025, during which stakeholders were afforded an opportunity to propose names of an executor.
“I duly lodged an objection to the administration of the estate on 5 January 2026 and emphasised that the estate of the deceased is still subject to a pending matter before this court.
“I was later advised that my objection had been overruled.
“I was specifically informed that the administration would proceed and that the choice of executor by the first respondent would prevail on the basis that she is the wife of the deceased.”
Ms Ramathe argues that the administration of the estate is premature, unlawful and prejudicial to her, as she must first receive her share in terms of the divorce decree.
“I have no interest in who is appointed executor, nor should I be part of any meeting appointing an executor.
“The problem arises when an executor is appointed to administer property that includes my share, as the joint estate has not yet been divided.
“I am aggrieved by the actions of the respondents in proceeding with the administration of the deceased’s estate prior to the division of the joint estate that existed between myself and the deceased.
“Until such time as the joint estate is divided, it is legally impossible to determine which portion of the estate constitutes the deceased’s separate estate capable of being administered by the Master.”
Mr Sekola passed away in November 2025 at the age of 62 after a brief illness, reportedly caused by depression and a stroke.
He was honoured with an official funeral in recognition of his service in the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and his political career.
Mr Sekola served as a Member of Parliament and was also a well-known taxi operator.
He entered politics in 2015 as an independent candidate before joining the All Basotho Convention (ABC) in 2016, through which he won the Makhaleng constituency in the 2017 general elections.
He then served as Deputy Minister of Water before being appointed Minister of Police and Public Safety.
Mr Sekola subsequently defected from the ABC to the Democratic Congress (DC) after losing his bid to retain the Makhaleng constituency to Mootsi Lehata, who defected from DC to the ruling Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) last year.
