By Teboho Serutla
The minister of communications, science and technology, Tšoinyana Rapapa, says the commission of inquiry set up to probe the ‘purported’ supply agreement between German company Frazer Solar GmBH and the government of Lesotho, has been temporarily suspended pending completion of a court battle between the two parties.
Solar power company Frazer Solar GmbH was awarded a R855-million in damages by a South African court after the Lesotho government reportedly reneged on a contract, which was purportedly to be funded by the German government, as part of a wider programme to turn Lesotho into a net exporter of electricity.
The government of Lesotho has since applied for stay of execution in the High Court of South Africa, and the matter is scheduled to be heard in August.
According to a government gazette published this week, the commission is tasked with probing events that led to the signing of the agreement of supply between the government and the services of notices in respect of the matter before arbitration and subsequent arbitration award.
instituted The commission is led by High Court Judge Justice Molefi Makara, while its other members are former government minister Mohlabi Tsekoa and Advocate Sekake Malebanye.
The commission is supposed to investigate how Frazer Solar GmBH was introduced to the government of Lesotho including the persons in the country who were involved in the events that led to the signing; and enabled the company to lodge claims against the government.
It will, among others, investigate whether the person or official who concluded the agreement on behalf of the government had the legal authority or approval from an authorised authority to do so and, if not, was there any undue interest or any influence received by any person.
Rapapa said those who have evidence are advised to come forward to testify under the guidance and regulation of the laws of the country and international laws.
He added that the attorney general has written a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly to order a temporary halt to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) investigation into the matter.
