A shocking confession has unveiled the grim details of the Mohale Dam murder case, exposing an alleged extrajudicial execution carried out by members of military intelligence.
The revelation came during the ongoing trial, as the prosecution presented its 24th witness, Inspector Nkeane, who recounted the chilling account given by one of the accused, Sergeant Lekhooa Moepi.
According to Inspector Nkeane, the investigation into the case led authorities to military intelligence officers, prompting requests for their cooperation. On September 21, 2017, military police brought in Captain Mahlehle Moeletsi and Sergeant Moepi for questioning.
The following day, Moepi was escorted to the magistrate’s court to give a confession. What followed was a harrowing disclosure of how the victims met their tragic end.
In his confession, Moepi reportedly detailed that the sequence of events began after two soldiers were shot at the Maseru border gate, leaving one dead and another hospitalised.
A military intelligence team was tasked with investigating the matter while police detained suspects. Some were released, while others were taken to court.
However, another group of military officers, including Captain Moeletsi and Warrant Officer Liphapang Sefako, was assigned to re-arrest those who had been freed.
On April 18, 2017, Moepi, along with Sefako and another officer, received orders to follow two suspects who had boarded a 4+1 taxi. They intercepted the vehicle and apprehended them.
The group was also instructed to follow a bus carrying additional suspects. Upon stopping the bus in Lekokoaneng, Warrant Officer Sefako boarded and identified a suspect who resisted arrest. The man was forcibly removed and taken into custody.
The most disturbing details of Moepi’s confession came next.
He recounted how the suspects were transported to Setibing, near the military base. During the journey, Captain Moeletsi remained in communication with someone he addressed as “sir”. Upon arrival, the suspects were allegedly ordered to be executed.
Moepi reportedly admitted that he suggested suffocating them instead of using firearms to avoid drawing attention. However, when he hesitated, Moeletsi and Sefako allegedly threatened him with death if he did not comply.
In a gruesome turn, Moepi described how plastic bags were used to suffocate the suspects until they perished. Their bodies were then weighted with stones and transported to Mohale Dam, where they were dumped.
The following day, the officers involved were commended by their superiors and warned to remain silent about the incident.
Inspector Nkeane confirmed that the confession aligned with previous intelligence and was officially attached to the case docket. On September 22, 2017, a site visit was conducted with Moepi, other suspects, and investigators. The team was taken to Setibing, where the victims were allegedly murdered, and then to Mohale Dam, where the bodies were disposed of.
Days later, more suspects, including Warrant Officer Sefako and Motšoane Machai, were brought in by military police. They were charged with murder and remanded in custody.
Investigators worked closely with the Special Operations Unit (SOU), whose divers marked the exact location in Mohale Dam where the bodies had been dumped.
On September 29, 2017, authorities questioned Private Tieho Tikiso, a key witness, who corroborated Moepi’s confession and helped identify critical locations tied to the case.
At the heart of this case are three civilians, Lekhoele Noko, Molise Pakela, and Khothatso Makibinyane, who were allegedly abducted, strangled, and discarded like debris in Mohale Dam.
The fate of the accused now rests in the hands of the courts, as Judge Moroke Mokhesi presides over this harrowing trial. The prosecution is led by Advocate Motene Rafoneke, while the defence is represented by Advocates Qhalehang Letsika, Letuka Molati, and Napo Mafaesa.
Relebohile Makhetha is a court and crime reporter based in Maseru. She has been working at Newsday since 2024. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Communication from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (2024) and a Diploma in Mass Communication from the National University of Lesotho (Institute of Extra-Mural Studies, 2018).
