Ministry of Police Principal Secretary Refiloe Matekane
Keiso Mohloboli
MINISTRY of Police Principal Secretary Refiloe Matekane’s Maseru West government residence was on Sunday broken into and wrecked by unknown assailants, the Lesotho Times heard this week.
The break-in occurred four days after the withdrawal of Mr Matekane and Government Secretary Moahloli Mphaka’s Lesotho Mounted Police Service security by Acting Police Commissioner Keketso Monaheng who had found the around-the-clock protection “unnecessary”.
Mr Matekane was granted the security soon after the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) simultaneously attacked Police Headquarters, Maseru Central Charge Office and Mabote Police Station on 30 August 2014, in what then Prime Minister Thomas Thabane described as an attempted coup.
Speaking to the Lesotho Times on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police – Crime Investigation Services Holomo Molibeli confirmed the break-in saying: “I went to the crime scene with my colleagues yesterday and, upon my arrival realised a broken padlock at the gate and smashed timber pillars used for fencing.
“There are still some footprints from the gate to the front door and the front door was also broken. The furniture was also damaged, clothes strewn on the floor from the wardrobes and all the rooms in disarray.”
He said that since the police did not have an inventory of Mr Matekane’s possessions in the house, they were unable to ascertain if anything was stolen during the break-in, adding that no arrests had yet been made
“Investigations are still on-going and people will be informed of the outcome immediately when they are complete,” Deputy Commissioner Molibeli said.
Contacted for comment on Tuesday, Mr Matekane confirmed the break-in but said he was still coming to terms with the incident.
“I think the break-in happened on Sunday and I was very shocked when I arrived home to realise that my furniture and everything else was displaced,” said Mr Matekane.
“My mattress was torn and damaged, the ceiling exit opened, the front door lock damaged and some of my clothes torn and thrown all over my bedroom.
“I reported the incident to the police and have since realised that my safety is still at risk while I await police investigations to be completed. In the meantime, I will hire private security.”
