…but asks court to acquit him
Hopolang Mokhopi
LEFA Mabusane, the notorious double-murder accused who first became a wanted man after the 2014 killing of two nurses, has pleaded guilty to strangling a woman for close to an hour — but is now asking the Maseru Magistrates’ Court to acquit him.`
Mabusane, who is also facing charges of murdering nurses Mpho Khutsoane and Mathebane Ramatabooe at Ha Mosalla, Thaba-Bosiu, on 11 August 2014, appeared before the Maseru Magistrates’ Court in connection with the alleged 2024 assault of Mpho Matholi.
He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, in contravention of Section 31(1)(2)(A)(B), read with Section 109 of the Penal Code Act.
The plea was not opposed by Crown Counsel, Advocate Moeketsi Tšolo.
It is alleged that on 14 April 2024, Mabusane unlawfully and intentionally assaulted Matholi with the intention of causing serious bodily injury by strangling her and hitting her on the head with a blunt object.
Outlining the Crown’s case, Adv Tšolo told the court that Matholi was at a shop in Maseru Mall when she met Mabusane, who was driving a blue Mazda Demio.
He offered her a lift, but she declined, saying she was about to board a taxi.
Later, while scrolling through her phone, Matholi received a Facebook friend request and realised it was from Mabusane. The two started chatting and later agreed to meet.
On the day of their meeting, Mabusane arrived driving a black Golf. Matholi got into the vehicle and they drove to her home, where they parked for some time.
Mabusane then asked her to accompany him to Naleli.
Upon arrival at Naleli, Matholi realised they were at a guest house. Mabusane allegedly gave money to security before returning to the vehicle and asking her to get inside.
She refused and asked him to take her home.
When they arrived at her house, Mabusane allegedly asked her to kiss him, but she refused.
Adv Tšolo told the court that Mabusane then told Matholi that he was going to kill her.
“He proceeded to strangle the victim for close to an hour,” Adv Tšolo said.
He said Matholi managed to open the car door, but Mabusane allegedly grabbed her by the throat and dragged her back into the vehicle.
“She eventually managed to escape and reported the matter to the police the following day.”
Adv Molapo accepted the Crown’s summary as true and correct. However, Adv Molapo then asked the court to acquit his client, arguing that the facts admitted by Mabusane did not establish the offence of aggravated assault as charged.
Referring to Section 31(1) and (2) of the Penal Code, Adv Molapo said aggravated assault required either the intentional causing of serious bodily injury or lasting physical disablement, or the use of an instrument or substance with the intention of inflicting serious physical injury.
He argued that the medical report did not establish serious bodily injury or permanent disability.
According to the report, Matholi sustained bruises to the head, tenderness and bruising to the neck and bruises on the knees, with the degree of force classified as moderate.
Adv Molapo therefore submitted that the injuries did not meet the threshold required for a conviction for aggravated assault.
Adv Tšolo argued that the defence had accepted that Matholi was strangled until she could not breathe and that such an act could result in death.
He submitted that even if the court found that aggravated assault had not been proved, Mabusane should be convicted of the competent verdict of common assault.
“He cannot walk out scot-free while there is evidence that he strangled a person,” Adv Tšolo said.
In reply, Adv Molapo maintained that Mabusane’s statement that he would kill Matholi amounted to a threat and did not, in itself, prove an intention to cause serious bodily injury.
The case has been postponed to 30 September 2026 for a ruling on whether Mabusane should be acquitted on the basis that the evidence does not establish serious bodily injury or permanent disablement.
Background
Mabusane is also facing trial before the High Court for the murders of nurses Mpho Khutsoane and Mathebane Ramatabooe, who were killed at Ha Mosalla, Thaba-Bosiu, on 11 August 2014.
He is further charged with robbing Khutsoane of her blue Volkswagen Golf 4.
Mabusane was initially charged alongside Setsokotsane Majalle, who was later acquitted and subsequently turned state witness. His murder trial has recently been postponed to 1 December 2026, after the Crown reported difficulties tracing three witnesses, including Mabusane’s former girlfriend, who are believed to be in South Africa.
Mabusane was granted bail in the murder case in June 2024 but remains in custody in connection with the Matholi assault case.
The assault case is the same matter that exposed the mystery of how Mabusane came to be walking free while prosecutors believed he was behind bars.
In July, the prosecution discovered that he was no longer in the custody of the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS), despite their understanding that he was still being held on the assault charge. The matter came to light when a prosecutor went looking for him at the LCS remand facility in Maseru after he repeatedly failed to appear in court.
Magistrate Lerato Ntelane, who had never granted him bail, expressed shock and ordered his immediate return to custody. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has since been investigating how he secured his release.
Acting DPP Advocate Lehlanako Mofilikoane told the Lesotho Times in July that Mabusane was arrested in 2024 over the Ha Tsolo assault and a separate rape case in the same area. Rather than apply for bail, he sought his discharge under the Speedy Trial Act, arguing that his case had not proceeded within 60 days of his detention. The Crown opposed the application, and the matter was set down for argument on 4 September 2024. Those arguments were never heard and, as far as prosecutors knew, he remained incarcerated.
His 2024 arrest was also the first indication that he was back in Lesotho. When the DPP sought his extradition from South Africa in 2014, authorities there said he had been convicted of another offence and was serving a 10-year prison sentence. Once he resurfaced, prosecutors revived the double-murder case.
