Moorosi Tsiane
SUSPENDED Director of Pharmaceuticals in the Ministry of Health, Mamoeti Mphoso, has petitioned the High Court seeking to be reinstated to her post with full rights and benefits.
She also claims she has been underpaid since she started holding the position in 2012 and therefore wants her salary arrears.
Ms Mphoso was suspended through a letter dated 11 April 2025 by the Ministry’s Principal Secretary (PS), ‘Maneo Ntene, over allegations of non-performance and insubordination. The suspension letter accuses her of failing to execute her duties—particularly her alleged refusal to participate in budget reporting and presentations before the Parliamentary Social Cluster Committee. She is also suspected of the improper issuance of cannabis licences.
“It has come to my attention that you are not performing your duties diligently as Acting Director: Pharmacy,” the suspension letter stated.
“Firstly, you failed to facilitate narcotics permits timeously, to the detriment of Basotho in need of them. Secondly, you disregarded instructions to participate in budget reporting and parliamentary presentations. Lastly, there are concerns about the improper issuance of cannabis licenses.”
Ms Ntene informed Ms Mphoso that she would be suspended on full pay for three months, effective 14 April 2025, while investigations into the allegations are conducted. During her suspension, she is prohibited from accessing her workplace and required to hand over all office property to the Director General of Health Services.
Unhappy with the suspension, Ms Mphoso filed an application in the High Court this week, asking for the decision to be reviewed and overturned. She also seeks immediate reinstatement.
Ministry of Health, MS Ntene, Director General of Health Services ‘Makhaose Ranyali-Otubanjo and Attorney General Rapelang Motsieloa KC are first to fourth respondents respectively in the application.
In her court papers, Ms Mphoso claims she was denied a fair hearing. She says she was served with a show-cause letter on 3 March 2025 by Dr Ranyali-Otubanjo, requiring her to explain why disciplinary proceedings should not be instituted. The accusations stemmed from her alleged absence at a 26 February 2025 parliamentary committee meeting, despite what the ministry claimed were multiple prior notices.
Ms Mphoso responded to the letter on 10 March 2025, contesting the claims. However, she asserts that she never received any formal hearing, oral or written, before being suspended.
She further argues that her absence from the parliamentary meeting was due to a conflicting assignment from Ms Ntene herself, who had directed her to urgently prepare a cannabis licensing database.
“It was impossible for me to attend the Parliament Social Cluster Committee while simultaneously executing an urgent directive from the Chairperson of the Narcotics Bureau (Ntene) to prepare the cannabis licensing database,” she states in her affidavit.
“Meanwhile, the Director General required me to appear at the same time before Parliament’s budget meeting.”
Ms Mphoso also contends that the suspension came prematurely, as she was still awaiting a ruling from Dr Ranyali-Otubanjo on the initial charges.
“…these charges were a duplication of the previous charges and/or they ought to have been included in the previous charges and not to come piecemeal. Another letter by my legal representative was written to the respondents informing them amongst other to withdraw the suspension as among others it offended against the sub-judice rule as I was still awaiting a ruling on the first charges levelled against me by Dr ‘Makhaose Ranyali-Otubanjo.”
Through her lawyer, Advocate Fusi Sehapi, Ms Mphoso has also demanded that the Ministry pay her salary arrears dating back to June 2012, when she was appointed as Acting Director of Pharmaceuticals.
According to a letter from Adv Sehapi to Ms Ntene attached to the court papers, Ms Mphoso began her public service career in October 1992 as a Pharmacy Technician (Grade F). She was promoted in 1995 to Senior Pharmacy Technician, and after returning from further studies in 2002, advanced to Pharmacist (Grade H).
By 2008, she became a Senior Pharmacist, performing regulatory functions. After obtaining a Master’s degree, she was appointed Director Pharmacy on 14 June 2012, a Grade J position.
Despite holding this post for more than a decade, her lawyer claims she has never been paid accordingly. Instead, she continues to receive a salary for her earlier role as Pharmacist, a position she last held in 2008.
“The Ministry of Health has advertised her position without giving her the opportunity to apply or consulting her,” claims Adv Sehapi.
“She has occupied this post for far too long to be removed without due process. Her employment rights, job status, and financial entitlements have been grossly violated.”
The letter demands confirmation of Ms Mphoso’s position, clarification of her job scope and superiors, and full payment of her salary arrears.
The respondents had not filed their papers by the time of going to print.
