A dispute between event management company Eventful Moments and the Federation of Athletics Lesotho (FAL) has escalated into an open standoff, weeks before one of the country’s major road races.
In a letter dated 12 November 2026, Eventful Moments demanded a refund of M5,209.50 from FAL and the Mokhotlong Athletics Association. It also announced that FAL officials will no longer take part in any of its events.
The company wants M1,736.50 refunded, which it paid into FAL’s Standard Bank account, and M3,473, which it paid to Mokhotlong Athletics Club through M-Pesa. It says there was no legal or regulatory basis for the commission charged.
It said it made the payments in December 2024, when FAL demanded a 15 percent commission for organising the Mokhotlong Marathon, calculated from entry fees paid by 241 runners. The company says it has since established that no law or regulation provides for such a commission.
It alleged that FAL President Inspector Tšeliso Sylvester Pheta acknowledged during discussions involving Minet Lesotho that the payment was not legally required. The two bodies have 30 calendar days to refund the money into its Nedbank Lesotho account.
The demand follows a show-cause notice FAL issued on 5 November. It raised concerns about how the company manages road races, particularly the Minet Independence Marathon on 3 October 2026 and the upcoming LHDA Mokhotlong Highlands Marathon on 6 December.
FAL accused the company of alleged non-compliance with athletics governance structures, poor coordination with technical officials, and operational shortcomings that could endanger athletes and the public. It cited reports that the 42.2km Minet marathon started before FAL’s designated technical officials arrived.
It also questioned how the officials were to be transported, how technical duties were allocated, and how hydration and athlete support staff were prepared and supervised.
The federation gave the company seven calendar days to explain and provide documents, including details of its relationship with Maseru Athletics Academy and its technical, traffic and medical plans for the LHDA marathon.
In its 12 November reply, Eventful Moments refused to provide some of the information, citing a confidentiality agreement with Minet Lesotho. It said disclosing sponsor information without written consent would breach the agreement, and told FAL to approach Minet directly.
The company also challenged how the notice was issued. It said the FAL president signed it, although the federation’s constitution assigns certain NEC correspondence to the Secretary General, according to the company. It asked who the Secretary General is, noting that its earlier letters went to Khauta Makhoana while FAL’s latest letterhead names Makara Thibinyane.
On the Nedbank Maseru City Run, it said FAL’s notice raised no specific concerns. It defended its dealings with Maseru Athletics Academy as following a FAL directive at a 16 April 2025 meeting at the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission (LSRC) offices, which it says it confirmed in a 15 May 2025 letter to Makhoana.
On the LHDA marathon, the company said preparations are on track. It has been talking to LHDA management since October 2025, and the race will form part of celebrations marking 40 years of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
The Local Organising Committee is coordinated by Hon Sam Rapapa, the Technical Committee is led by Maboleli Ntsapi of Mokhotlong Athletics Association, the Medical Committee by Dr Mamohoanyane Chabana, and the Security and Safety Committee by Senior Inspector Masoli Khoanyane. LHDA is represented on all of them.
Eventful Moments said FAL’s proposed disciplinary action and possible referral to the LSRC could affect its ability to run future races. It argued that disciplinary procedures under Articles 13 and 14 of the FAL Constitution apply to federation members, not private companies. It also read FAL’s position as a lack of confidence in its ability to organise events.
The company said its board resolved that FAL officials will not take part in any of its events, including the Nedbank Maseru City Run and the LHDA Mokhotlong Highlands Marathon. The ban stays until the disciplinary processes and any LSRC action produce a determination or arbitration award against the company. It takes effect immediately.
FAL maintains that commercial organisers are not exempt from national athletics rules, technical oversight and public safety duties because their races are private or sponsored. It said its concerns were meant to protect the integrity of athletics and the safety of participants, not to punish the company without due process.
After considering the company’s response, the federation said it could require corrective measures, refer matters to its disciplinary structures, ask the LSRC to intervene, and tell event owners and public authorities about substantiated safety concerns.
It stressed that its concerns about the LHDA marathon were not a final disciplinary finding or an order stopping the company from doing business.
Summary
- The federation gave the company seven calendar days to explain and provide documents, including details of its relationship with Maseru Athletics Academy and its technical, traffic and medical plans for the LHDA marathon.
- It defended its dealings with Maseru Athletics Academy as following a FAL directive at a 16 April 2025 meeting at the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission (LSRC) offices, which it says it confirmed in a 15 May 2025 letter to Makhoana.
- The company said its board resolved that FAL officials will not take part in any of its events, including the Nedbank Maseru City Run and the LHDA Mokhotlong Highlands Marathon.
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