…as police launch manhunt
Kabelo Masoabi
A 14-year-old schoolgirl is recovering in hospital after she was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted in a harrowing overnight ordeal that has shaken the Ha Mokokoana community in Leribe District.
According to police reports, the teenager, who attends school in Hlotse, was walking home alone on Monday evening when she was allegedly seized by an unidentified man near fields in Ha Lenyekoane village, within the Linotsing Ha Mokokoana area. The incident is believed to have occurred at around 7:00 p.m.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect forced the girl to a secluded spot, where she was held captive under a tree and repeatedly assaulted throughout the night.
The incident came to light the following morning when a passerby, reportedly a woman escorting children to school, found the victim walking home naked and in distress.
The girl’s clothing was later recovered at the scene, supporting evidence of the alleged crime. She was immediately taken for medical attention and remains hospitalised. Officials have indicated that she has underlying health conditions.
Sergeant Ramakatsa of St Monica’s Police Post confirmed the incident, stating that investigations are ongoing, though progress has been hindered by the victim’s condition.
“We await the victim’s recovery so that we can begin interviewing her. We believe she may provide crucial information that could help identify the perpetrator,” he said.
“We are urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation.”
Community members have expressed outrage and fear following the incident. A local resident, Alice Sejaka, suggested that the girl’s reported epilepsy may have caused her to lose consciousness during the ordeal.
“We suspect she might have fainted at some point. The attacker may have assumed she was dead and abandoned her. It’s possible that this is what saved her life,” Ms Sejaka said.
The victim reportedly managed to recount parts of the ordeal to her parents, stating that the attacker slapped her multiple times during the assault.
Fear and anxiety have since gripped the village, with residents questioning the safety of their children. One villager, Ms Manti Leoma, said parents may soon be forced to escort their children to and from school.
Area Chief, Pabala Mokokoana, confirmed that he had learned of the incident through community members but had not yet received a formal report.
“At this point, I am relying entirely on what I have heard from villagers. I am still waiting for the victim’s family to come forward and officially report the matter. Only then can I speak with certainty and take the necessary steps” Chief Mokokoana said.
The chief explained that he had been away attending a school graduation ceremony in Hlotse yesterday. During his absence, he was informed that the victim’s parents had visited his office seeking assistance, but unfortunately, he was unavailable.
He also said police had reportedly visited the area in connection with the incident, suggesting that authorities may already be beginning to respond, even in the absence of a formal report.
This incident occurs against a broader and deeply troubling national backdrop. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), as of 2024, an estimated 86 percent of Basotho women have experienced some form of gender-based violence in their lifetime—a staggering figure that underscores the pervasive nature of the crisis and the difficulties in addressing it.
Lesotho continues to rank among the most dangerous countries in the world for women, currently standing third globally in reported cases of rape per capita. For many in the community, this latest incident is not an isolated event but a painful reminder of a persistent, systemic problem that continues to undermine the sense of safety and security for women and children alike. Commissioner of Police, Advocate Borotho Matsoso, has this week vowed to crack down on violence against women and children.
