—Lithabaneng man’s genitalia mutilated by partner
Moorosi Tsiane
A relationship between two men, initiated through social media, has ended in tragedy after one of them, aged 29, was discovered in a pool of blood at his residence in Lithabaneng, Teyateyaneng on the morning of Sunday, April 27, 2025.
Kabelo Seseli, a gay crossdresser and LGBTQ activist, was reportedly stabbed three times by his partner, Katleho Mosiuoa, aged 25, who then proceeded to mutilate his (Seseli’s) genitals.
Bizarrely, Mosiuoa claims to have been duped by Seseli into believing the latter was a woman, only to discover this was not the case. But some family members are contesting this version. They insist he knew very well that Seseli was gay. The two had taken and flaunted pictures on social media proving they were gay, it has been claimed.
According to a police statement, Mosiuoa allegedly attacked Seseli upon realizing his partner’s sexual orientation after having spent money on the latter under the impression that he was a woman.
The police had received a tip-off regarding a corpse in Lithabaneng, leading them to identify the victim as Kabelo Seseli.
Investigations revealed that the two had met online, where the accused had pursued the deceased, resulting in a relationship where Mosiuoa provided financial support. On the day of the murder, they had arranged to meet at Seseli’s home.
The investigation further indicates that while they were asleep, Mosiuoa discovered that he was with another man, contrary to his expectations, prompting him to stab Seseli and mutilate his genitals with a knife.
Mosiuoa is currently awaiting a bail hearing at the Teyateyaneng correctional facility after appearing before Magistrate Monethi earlier this week.
As police inquiries continue, Seseli’s family is left to cope with an immense loss and numerous unresolved questions stemming from this violent turn of events.
Speaking to the Lesotho Times this week, Tšoanelo Seseli, the sister of the deceased, said this was an incredibly challenging period for their family, exacerbated by the vague explanations provided by the police following their initial investigations.
“This is an extremely difficult time for us as a family; we are still grappling with the loss of our beloved brother. It is even more disheartening that he was killed by someone we believed to be his partner, and now the police appear to be mishandling the situation,” Ts’oanelo said.
“We had high hopes for his future, and to have him taken from us in such a brutal way is profoundly painful.”
In a quivering voice during our interview, Tšoanelo refuted claims that Mosiuoa was unaware of her brother’s sexual orientation, asserting, “It is a falsehood that Mosiuoa did not know Kabelo was gay; he was openly proud of his identity and never concealed it. Anyone who knew him was aware of his sexuality, and Katleho (Mosiuoa) is being dishonest in claiming ignorance, as this was not their first encounter.”
According to Ts’oanelo, the deceased and his lover had photographs taken prior to the day of the tragedy.
Seseli, the youngest of thirteen siblings—seven girls and six boys—was described by his sister as warm, considerate, vibrant, and approachable.
“He was a kind, thoughtful, and loving individual. I was with him the night Kabelo was supposed to visit, and he was filled with joy, telling me that his boyfriend was coming to our home in Lithabaneng. Kabelo had actually called him to announce his visit that evening,” Tšoanelo recounted.
But the following day, on Sunday morning, Tšoanelo received the alarming news that she needed to hurry to their residence due to an incident involving her younger brother.
Upon her arrival, she discovered him lying on the floor, surrounded by used condoms.
According to Ts’oanelo, Katleho falsely claimed that he killed her brother because Kabelo had desired a sexual encounter, which Katleho had refused.
In reality, she said, they had engaged in sexual relations, and Katleho’s motive for taking Kabelo’s phone after the murder was to erase their conversations and any evidence of their relationship.
“All the narratives he is currently fabricating are entirely untrue,” Ts’oanelo said.
As news of Seseli’s death circulated, social media was inundated with messages of sorrow and remembrance, as friends extended their condolences to the family while also questioning the police’s handling of the situation.
The police initially released what has been described as a careless statement urging “men who identify as women to disclose this information to their pursuers to prevent such incidents”.
However, in response to a public backlash, the police revised their statement, couching it in a more engaging tone in which they advised individuals entering romantic relationships to become well-acquainted with one another.
Tampose Mothopeng, the Director of the People’s Matrix Association, a non-governmental organization dedicated to advocating for the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community and addressing their health needs, emphasized the necessity for Lesotho to reflect on and revise its laws to “ensure they are current and effectively safeguard individuals’ rights”.
“This incident is not driven by hate but is rather a manifestation of intimate partner violence, making it challenging to comment on situations involving individuals in a relationship,” he told the Lesotho Times.
“This issue extends beyond our community (LGBTIQ+), as there have been numerous murder cases reported in this nation, indicating that those in authority must reassess our legal framework and consider necessary amendments to mitigate the alarming rate of homicides.
“Furthermore, as has been previously noted, these individuals were in a relationship and had been seen together on multiple occasions, with the perpetrator occasionally sharing images of them together on social media. Therefore, it raises the question of why such a violent act would occur between them. It is essential to clarify this matter first.”
The deceased’s family is yet to decide on the burial date.
