…as two rifles believed to belong to LDF are confiscated by famo gangsters
Moorosi Tsiane
A member of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) has allegedly been shot dead in South Africa during a gunfight between rival illegal mining gangs.
The incident sheds more light into the recurring problem of thefts of State firearms in Lesotho by serving members of the armed forces accused of working with criminal syndicates.
Some members of the LDF and Lesotho Mounted Police Service have been caught moonlighting as criminals, worsening the already disconcerting crime levels in both Lesotho and South Africa.
The groups involved in the latest incident are reported to have been battling over control of an abandoned mining shaft in the West Rand, Gauteng. Corporal (Cpl) Commando Molise Molieleng is alleged to have been fighting on the side of one of the groups, believed to be famo gangsters involved in illegal mining activities in South Africa.
Cpl Molieleng, a member of the LDF’s elite special forces unit attached to military intelligence, was reportedly gunned down on Tuesday.
He was allegedly found in possession of an LDF-issued Galil rifle and his work identity card, which is said to have confirmed his identity to those who shot him.
According to a source close to the matter in South Africa, Cpl Molieleng was one of the four soldiers who had been called in as backup because of their shooting skills.
“Zama zama (illegal miners) groups fight over abandoned mines in South Africa, which are now limited as the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) continue to clamp down on illegal mining,” the source said.
“This group attacked another that was already operating at the site on Friday night, after the soldier and three others—also believed to be members of the armed forces—arrived as backup. They believed that with trained shooters, they would outmanoeuvre their rivals.
“However, three of the attackers were shot and killed. Molieleng was the only one positively identified because he still had his military identification on him. The other two could not be identified. The attackers later retreated on Tuesday after suffering the casualties.
“They also dropped an AK47 rifle while running away. It is also believed to belong to the said soldiers.”
A separate source in Maseru said Cpl Molieleng had taken 20 days’ leave from the army, as his application for early retirement was still pending.
“He had accumulated many leave days and was instructed by the LDF command to exhaust them before he could be formally released,” the source said.
“He left the country on Friday morning for South Africa, travelling with two unknown men.
“I have learned that he is now dead. The information I received is that he was shot on Tuesday, although full details are still unclear. He had applied for early retirement but was still serving his notice through leave days,” the source added.
While the circumstances of his death remain unclear, insiders say the incident points to a deeper crisis within the army, with growing concerns about the involvement of some soldiers in organised crime, gang violence and cross-border illicit activities.
The source further warned of the risk posed by missing military weapons.
“What complicates matters is that Molieleng was found in possession of an LDF-issued Galil rifle, which he is suspected to have taken from his workplace. There are serious concerns that those who killed him could take the weapon, and it could eventually end up in the hands of the South African National Defence Force if those are arrested, potentially triggering diplomatic and security complications,” the source said.
Even more troubling are allegations that the slain soldier was not acting alone, but was part of a group of serving soldiers who had crossed into South Africa to join illegal mining syndicates—raising questions about discipline, command oversight and possible infiltration of criminal networks within the LDF.
LDF, LMPS responses
Efforts to obtain official comment from the LDF were unsuccessful. LDF spokesperson, Colonel (Col) Sakeng Lekola, said he was unaware of the incident.
“I do not have such a report on my table at the moment, so it is not something I can comment on. We have many soldiers, and I cannot know each and every one of them,” Col Lekola said.
Similarly, Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) spokesperson, Superintendent (Supt) Thabo Mohai, said police had not received any formal communication regarding the matter.
“We have not been notified by our Interpol counterparts about such a case. As things stand, we do not have any report of a missing firearm from the LDF that has been referred to us for investigation,” Supt Mohai said.
“We have had incidents where individuals arrested for possession of illegal firearms were later discovered to be serving soldiers. However, we do not yet have a formal case where the LDF has reported missing weapons,” he added.
Nonetheless, The LDF Commander, Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela, has previously issued a stern warning to soldiers involved in famo groups, instructing them to disengage. He said the army was not a home for criminals and would deal decisively with offenders.
Background
Cpl Molieleng’s death comes amid an ongoing LMPS investigation into an alleged syndicate involving serving and former soldiers accused of stealing firearms from LDF armouries and selling them to famo gangs.
Police sources say the network has been operating for some time, siphoning off weapons—including high-powered rifles such as AK-47s and Galils—from military stockpiles.
Investigators allege that damaged or decommissioned firearms were smuggled out piece by piece, reassembled, and sold on the black market for between M70,000 and M100,000.
The weapons are believed to have fuelled escalating violence linked to famo gang conflicts, which have increasingly spread into South Africa’s illegal mining hotspots.
In January this year, three LDF members—Corporals Letseka Tšitso, Mosuoe Letšoana and Lerato Sechoala—were charged in connection with the theft of state firearms.
According to the charge sheet, the trio allegedly stole five Galil rifles, four AK-47 rifles, one 9mm P-line automatic pistol and two 7.65mm pistols from Makoanyane Barracks in November 2025.
While Letšoana and Sechoala remain in Lesotho Correctional Service custody after not applying for bail, Tšitso was briefly detained by the LDF following his release on bail before being suspended by the army command.
In early February, the SAPS recovered six AK-47 rifles and four pistols from Basotho suspects allegedly involved in illegal mining in South Africa. It remains unclear whether the weapons were among those stolen from LDF armouries.
At the time, SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe told the Lesotho Times the firearms had been seized during three separate operations, which resulted in four Basotho illegal miners being killed in shootouts, seven arrests, and several suspects fleeing.
Brig Mathe could not be reached for comment yesterday regarding the latest incident.
The Lesotho Times was also unable to reach the leaders of the rival groups allegedly fighting over the West Rand mining turf.
