Mohloai Mpesi
NALEDI Funeral Planners founder, Thabiso Madiba, has regained full control of the company following a High Court (Commercial Division) judgment in his favour, ending a 10-month power struggle that threatened to paralyse the funeral services provider.
The judgment, delivered on 5 November 2026, effectively settles a boardroom dispute involving a faction led by former board chairperson, Malefetsane Tlelima, which had sought to wrest control of the company from Mr Madiba and his allies.
Founded in 2013, Naledi Funeral Planners has grown into one of Lesotho’s largest funeral services providers, operating 25 branches across the country.
Addressing a press conference in Maseru this week, Mr Madiba said the dispute had prevented his team from accessing company funds held in banks because they were not recognised as legitimate directors.
He said the court ruling had finally cleared the way for them to access the money and resume plans to expand the business.
“This is a turning point, and all the doors are open. We can access our funds now.
“Naledi Funeral Planners has grown a lot, so much that on a weekend, one mortuary receives more than 100 corpses when its capacity is only 50.
“We were unable to expand because we could not access the funds. Now we are going to be able to make expansions. We are going to do all in our power to invest in the company so that it provides high-quality services. We are going to regain the trust that the public had in us. Our services are going to exceed our customers’ expectations,” he said.
Mr Madiba said the company would now prioritise investment in its operations, improve service delivery and restore public confidence after months of uncertainty.
He also announced changes to the executive management, with former Acting Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) Tšolo Seutloali appointed Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, while Dr Mphekeleli Hoohlo has been appointed Chief Operations Officer (COO).
How the dispute started
The boardroom wrangle dates back to the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 16 January 2026 at the Thetsane Office Park boardroom.
The meeting followed disagreements over the appointment of Advocate Peter Matekane as company secretary while he was also employed by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO).
Some shareholders questioned the legality of his appointment, while Mr Tlelima maintained that there was no evidence it violated the Civil Service Act.
At the AGM, shareholders holding more than 70 percent of the company’s shares resolved to dissolve the existing board, which comprised Mr Tlelima, Bonang Phooko, Tholo Shea, Soaile Mochaba and Mamphano Tente.
The shareholders included Mr Madiba, who held 45.152 percent, Sidwell Jackson (12.523 percent), Khojane Madiba (1.243 percent), Mohau Linake (13.876 percent) and Retšepile Linake (1.248 percent). They were joined by proxies, Advocates Tembo Lesupi and Mokhacho Kao.
Mr Tlelima and some of the other directors walked out of the meeting, insisting that it had been adjourned.
However, the remaining shareholders proceeded with the meeting, voted to dissolve the board and removed Mr Tlelima as chairperson. Mr Madiba was subsequently appointed to chair the AGM.
Mr Tlelima then approached the High Court, seeking to have the decisions taken by the shareholders declared null and void. He also wanted the court to prevent Mr Madiba and the other shareholders who had remained at the meeting from presenting themselves as directors or running the company.
Mr Madiba said the court had since dismissed Mr Tlelima’s application, effectively confirming the authority of the directors appointed at the January AGM.
“The court judged in favour of those who remained behind, meaning their application was dismissed.
“The court gave us the go-ahead to lead the company and lawfully removed the complainants. On the power struggle in Naledi, the court has decided that Thabiso Madiba, Khojane Madiba and Tšolo Seutloali are the lawful directors appointed by the shareholders on 16 January 2026,” he said.
M75 million locked out
Mr Madiba said the legal battle had severely affected the company’s operations, leaving it unable to make important business decisions or access its money.
He said banks had refused to recognise the new leadership because the directors were not reflected in the company records held by the One-Stop Business Facilitation Centre (OBFC), the government agency responsible for maintaining the company registry.
“The case put the company in jeopardy because it was unable to do anything. Nobody knew who the real managers of the company were,” he said.
“When you saw Naledi struggling all year round, and customers complaining about poor service quality, it was because of the case.
“The company was unable to do certain things. The OBFC could not even register the new directors because it said it was waiting for the case to end. Even now, it is the former directors who appear on its website,” he said.
He said the situation also made it difficult for Naledi to enter into business agreements because prospective partners checking the company’s records online would find the former directors listed as its leadership.
Attempts to change bank signatories were similarly unsuccessful because the banks relied on the OBFC records to verify the company’s directors.
Mr Madiba said the company had been unable to access approximately M75 million held in different banks, money that could have been used to improve services and expand operations.
“That issue affected us because we came across some challenges at some of the banks where Naledi kept shareholders’ subscriptions. All year round, Naledi was unable to access its funds, totalling M75 million, at different banks to improve its service delivery.
“We were unable to take long-term decisions. We see weaknesses in the company caused by a lack of staff capacity, as there are vacancies,” he said.
New Board member, Attorney Khotso Nthontho, said the judgment was significant because it had clarified who had the authority to manage the company and provide strategic direction.
He said the ruling would also help Naledi address reputational damage suffered during the dispute and restore investor confidence.
“No one would like to invest in a company where board members are fighting.
“Now that things are clear about the leadership of the company, and there are no conflicts and infighting, there will be investor confidence,” he said.
