Former Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) Commissioner-General ‘Mathabo Mokoko has taken her legal battle with the RSL board of directors to the Court of Appeal, seeking recourse over the board’s failure to comply with a Labour Court order.
Mokoko is challenging a Labour Appeal Court ruling that reversed a Labour Court finding that the board was in contempt of court for allegedly defying an interim order not to terminate her contract.
The Labour Court had ordered that board members be committed to 30 days’ imprisonment, but the Labour Appeal Court suspended that order indefinitely.
She now wants the original contempt findings reinstated. Her lawyer described her dismissal while the case was still pending in court as misconduct. Although her contract was due to end on 31 August 2026, she was expelled from work in November 2025.
Mokoko’s lawyer, Advocate Motiea Teele KC, told the court that his client is not seeking reinstatement to her former position. Her grievance centres on the alleged contempt arising from the board’s failure to comply with the lower court’s directive.
The board reportedly did not act on the order because it was “not signed”. Teele told the apex court that the order was made orally and that the board was served and notified by Mokoko via email.
He argued that the order became effective once it was delivered and served on those it was meant for. He also said it was issued ex parte, meaning without notice to the other party or an opportunity for them to be heard.
When the court asked whether the board’s contention was that it did not understand the order, the answer was no. Teele said the board understood the order but failed to carry it out because it was not signed.
The board’s lawyer, Advocate Motebang Ramaili SC, argued that there was no order in place when his clients were notified. He told the court that what they received was a “draft” and not the official court order. For the order to hold, argued that it had to be “signed and stamped”.
The dispute has its roots in a fall-out last year between Mokoko and the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane. The board was aware of the conflict and acknowledged both the Minister and the then Commissioner-General.
Central to the conflict were allegations by Mokoko that the Minister had been issuing unlawful instructions, compromising the independence of the tax authority and exposing its leadership to possible criminal liability.
In a letter of demand dated 8 September 2025, Mokoko, through her lawyers Mei & Mei Attorneys Inc., accused Matlanyane of issuing “persistent unlawful instructions” that violate the secrecy and operational independence of the tax authority.
The letter, also copied to the RSL board chair on 9 September 2025, described what Mokoko calls “intolerable” working conditions created by the Minister’s conduct. The Court of Appeal will hand down its ruling on 13 November 2026.
Summary
- Former Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) Commissioner-General ‘Mathabo Mokoko has taken her legal battle with the RSL board of directors to the Court of Appeal, seeking recourse over the board’s failure to comply with a Labour Court order.
- Mokoko is challenging a Labour Appeal Court ruling that reversed a Labour Court finding that the board was in contempt of court for allegedly defying an interim order not to terminate her contract.
- Teele told the apex court that the order was made orally and that the board was served and notified by Mokoko via email.
Thoboloko Ntšonyane is a dedicated journalist who has contributed to various publications. He reports on accountability, human rights, exposes corruption and wrong doing by those in power. He reports have exposed corruption, abuse of power, fraud, misconduct and negligence. He subscribes to evidence-based reporting. He reports on governance, parliament, courts, climate change, human rights, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), health, business and agriculture. He gives a voice to the marginalised while also demanding accountability. His work inspires change, triggers dialogue and also promote transparency in a society.
