The Maseru City Council (MCC) has expressed serious doubts over the legality of a contract it awarded for the critical stabilisation and rehabilitation of the troubled Ha Tšosane dumpsite and the development of the proposed Tšoeneng sanitary landfill.
In a letter dated June 9, 2026, the council notified SSL Joint Venture that the contract, formally titled “Design and Supervision of the Tšosane Dumpsite Stabilisation and Rehabilitation, and Tšoeneng Sanitary Landfill Design, Stabilisation and Long-term Environmental Design Project,” exceeds the council’s monetary ceiling and may therefore be “illegal or unlawful.”
The letter, addressed to Teboho Nchapha: “Our attention has been drawn to the fact that the contract above that we signed with you is way above the Maseru City Council monetary ceiling/jurisdiction on works of this nature. That, by reason thereof, means that the contract may very well be illegal or unlawful.”
Town Clerk ‘Moea Makhakhe signed the correspondence and invited the joint venture to submit written representations or contributions by close of business on Friday, June 12, 2026.
When contacted by Newsday on Thursday, Makhakhe confirmed the matter would be addressed publicly once the council receives the joint venture’s input.
“The Council would talk about these issues publicly, as it is a public issue, after it has received written representations from SSL Joint Venture,” he said.
The council’s letter does not disclose the contract value or detail how the apparent breach of financial thresholds occurred. It remains unclear what immediate steps will follow if the contract is ultimately deemed invalid.
The projects are central to long-standing efforts to address the Ha Tšosane dumpsite, which has been a persistent environmental and health hazard for nearby residents.
The site has repeatedly caught fire, most recently in September 2025, blanketing Ha Tšosane in thick, acrid smoke and raising fears of respiratory illnesses and other pollution-related health impacts.
Government officials have previously indicated plans to relocate operations to a new sanitary landfill at Tšoeneng, but progress has been slow amid funding, procurement, and legal challenges.
A 2022 study by Lemohang Precious Mokoka, titled “The Impact of Tšosane Solid Waste Dumpsite on the Neighbouring Community,” provided empirical evidence of the dangers.
The study found that residents living within a radius of 0-500 meters from the dumpsite reported environmental degradation, bad odours, and health issues.
Findings from the study indicated that the dumpsite’s proximity contributes to land, noise, and air pollution, with some residents even suffering economic losses on rental properties due to the unbearable living conditions.
The study concluded that residents were living in fear and suffering from trauma, with impacts being most acutely felt closer to the site.
During an address to the National Assembly last year, then minister of local government Lebona Lephema stated that the ministry was working on a solution to relocate the dumpsite to Tšoeneng.
However, this statement was met with scepticism and sharp criticism from the leader of the United Africans Transformation (UAT), Dr. Mahali Phamotse.
Phamotse demanded an explanation for how the M20 million allocated in the 2025/2026 financial year for the relocation had been spent.
She expressed concern that the money, intended for implementation, was being used for yet another study and the identification of new companies.
“This is among the things that derail this country’s progress,” Dr. Phamotse declared, suggesting the funds were not being used for their intended purpose.
The government’s repeated delays and apparent inaction were further highlighted in a report by the Portfolio Committees on Law and Public Safety and Natural Resources, Tourism, and Land.
The report’s findings were damning. The committee found that the Tšosane dumpsite had been illegal since the Environment Act was enacted in 2008 and lacks an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The committees’ recommendations included a comprehensive EIA to assess the full extent of the damage, a funded clean-up strategy, and an improved budget for modern waste management infrastructure across the country.
Summary
- The Maseru City Council (MCC) has expressed serious doubts over the legality of a contract it awarded for the critical stabilisation and rehabilitation of the troubled Ha Tšosane dumpsite and the development of the proposed Tšoeneng sanitary landfill.
- In a letter dated June 9, 2026, the council notified SSL Joint Venture that the contract, formally titled “Design and Supervision of the Tšosane Dumpsite Stabilisation and Rehabilitation, and Tšoeneng Sanitary Landfill Design, Stabilisation and Long-term Environmental Design Project,” exceeds the council’s monetary ceiling and may therefore be “illegal or unlawful.
- The committees’ recommendations included a comprehensive EIA to assess the full extent of the damage, a funded clean-up strategy, and an improved budget for modern waste management infrastructure across the country.
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
