Ntsoaki Motaung and Seabata Mahao
The Lesotho Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy Council (LMDPC) is facing serious accusations of neglecting to investigate a complaint lodged against a medical doctor, Dr. Dede Kalombo, who stands accused of sexually assaulting a young woman.
According to the survivor’s sister, she discovered in 2023 that her younger sibling had allegedly been repeatedly assaulted by Dr. Kalombo, her former partner, who had close access to their family.
She told Newsday that the sexual abuse began in 2020 when the survivor was only 15 years old and continued for three consecutive years. The ordeal came to light after the survivor’s boyfriend noticed a change in her behaviour toward the doctor and questioned her about it.
“In 2023, we discovered this issue because my sister’s boyfriend saw a change in her behaviour towards the doctor, which raised his eyebrows. He started questioning her, and that is when she opened up and said the suspect had been sexually assaulting her since 2020. This happened for three consecutive years,” she explained.
A case was opened with the police, and Dr. Kalombo was charged and allegedly initially denied bail. However, the family was shocked to learn that he had been released from custody a few days later without any formal notification.
Following his release, the sister submitted a formal complaint to the LMDPC on February 19, 2024, but says the council has yet to respond.
She also revealed that the accused’s lawyer contacted her, offering compensation, an offer she declined, saying she would respond through her own lawyer. Subsequent attempts by her lawyer to reach the accused’s counsel were unsuccessful, and when she called Dr. Kalombo directly, he promised to return her call but never did.
Frustrated by the Medical Council’s silence, the sister sought help from the Police Complaints Authority, which advised her to follow up on the court proceedings. She later learned that the matter was still before the courts.
The family’s main concern is what they describe as the Medical Council’s inaction, which they fear reflects a lack of seriousness in addressing the allegations.
Dr. Kalombo is currently employed at Scott Hospital in Morija, having resigned from St. Joseph’s Hospital after the allegations surfaced.
“We are afraid that there may be other victims of his,” the sister said.
When contacted, the Medical Superintendent at Scott Hospital, Dr. Ngoy Wa Banza, said he was unaware of any ongoing case against Dr. Kalombo. He admitted the hospital hired him without conducting a background check, adding that his previous employer had not disclosed any such concerns.
The President of the LMDPC, Dr. Lelimo, also told Newsday that he did not recall receiving any complaint against Dr. Kalombo.
“Now that I do not remember it, that limits us from establishing what we are currently doing about it, but I cannot remember it,” he said. “Even if I did, I would not discuss the details with the media.”
Court records confirm that the matter was initially filed in Maseru Children’s Court in 2023 due to the survivor’s age at the time of the alleged offences. It was later transferred to the Maseru Magistrate Court in 2024 under case number CR13/24.
Officials at the Maseru Magistrate Court confirmed to Newsday that the case is part-heard, meaning proceedings are ongoing before Magistrate McPherson and have not yet been concluded. They added that while no charge sheet is available at this stage, Dr. Kalombo is facing charges of sexual assault.
When contacted for comment, Dr. Kalombo confirmed that a case involving him is before the Maseru Magistrate Court but declined to comment further.
“I cannot comment on this issue because anything I say will be used against me in a court of law. Please speak to my lawyer if there is anything regarding the case,” he said before ending the call.
Summary
- The ordeal came to light after the survivor’s boyfriend noticed a change in her behaviour toward the doctor and questioned her about it.
- The family’s main concern is what they describe as the Medical Council’s inaction, which they fear reflects a lack of seriousness in addressing the allegations.
- Court records confirm that the matter was initially filed in Maseru Children’s Court in 2023 due to the survivor’s age at the time of the alleged offences.
Your Trusted Source for News and Insights in Lesotho!
At Newsday Media, we are passionate about delivering accurate, timely, and engaging news and multimedia content to our diverse audience. Founded with the vision of revolutionizing the media landscape in Lesotho, we have grown into a leading hybrid media company that blends traditional journalism with innovative digital platforms.
