By Kefiloe Kajane
After months of indiscriminate killings at Makola in the Berea district, the Lesotho Mounted Police have finally arrested three men in connection with some of the murders.
Three men Malefetsane Malebo (47) Thabang Molefi Mosiuoa (33) and Motlalepula Tholoana (32) of Makola appeared before the Berea magistrate’s court on October 15 charged with the murder of a 21-year-old man of the same village.
They are waiting to appear again in the magistrate’s court on November 29. Reports say on July 16, the suspects attacked the deceased with knives until he lost his life.
One of the suspects, Malefetsane Malebo appeared before the Berea magistrate’s court on October 15 on charges of murdering three men aged 26, 32, and 46 and the attempted murder of two other men. He, too is waiting to appear before court on November 29. Reports indicate that on the evening of August 30 2020, three men arrived at a local business and opened fire on patrons before fleeing.
Still at the Berea magistrate’s court, a 21-year-old woman Limpho Malebo of the same village was charged with making threats. She was granted bail of M1, 000 which she was able to pay. She will appear before the Berea magistrate court again on Thursday next week.
Police report that on June 2020, the accused was heard making threats that there are still going to be more deaths and that she will be avenging her family members’ deaths.
Police reports further indicate that these murders appear to be revenge attacks because police understand that a member of Malefetsane’s family was killed in South Africa where another family member was also killed.
This comes after theReporter’s visit to Makola where the local chief, ‘Maseqhobela Tumo, said in a bid to address the crimes in their community, she conferred with men in the village to discuss ways to conduct night patrols to make the people feel safe.
She then indicated that she had talked to police and had seen them patrolling during the day.
“My community live in fear; we really need protection and to stick together. This community needs all the help and protection it can get,” Tumo said.
