High Court Assistant Registrar Sues Reporters

...demands five million dollars for defamation Hopolang Mokhopi T The High Court Assistant Registrar, Tebello Mokhoema, has initiated a M5 m...

...demands five million dollars for defamation

Hopolang Mokhopi

TThe High Court Assistant Registrar, Tebello Mokhoema, has initiated a M5 million defamation case and is seeking court orders to prevent the media from covering claims that she took court documents.

Advocate Mokhoema is taking legal action against journalists, Khotsofalang Koloi fromThe Postand Thabo Lepekola, who manages the Facebook news pageMejametalana Newsroom for defamation.

She has also taken legal action against her ex-lover, Tšenoli Thamahane, and her sister, Itumeleng Thahamane Lebakeng, alleging that they have shared and spread false, harmful, and malicious claims about her on social media platforms.

Thamahane, employed as a driver at the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO), is currently being charged with the attempted murder of Adv Mokhoema and the killing of her sister, Malechakane Mokhoema.

He is said to have killed the two individuals on March 8, 2025, at her residence in Berea.

Although Adv Mokhoema stated that her ex-lover shot them without provocation, Thamahane informed the court that he acted in self-defense, asserting that Malechakane was heading to get a .38 Special handgun.

He claimed that the gun was taken by Adv Mokhoema from the High Court, where it was a labeled exhibit in an unknown case. Justice Palesa Rantara is set to announce her decision tomorrow, which will decide if Thamahane is released or continues to be imprisoned.

And now, Adv Mokhoema, through her attorney Advocate Tiisetso Challa, is seeking M5 million in compensation, claiming the accusations have severely damaged her reputation, emotional health, and career status.

She is seeking for the court to compel the respondents to issue complete retractions and public apologies on the Facebook pages of the mentioned journalists -- includingMejametalana Newsroom-- explicitly asserting that the claims were untrue and harmful.

The application also requests a permanent injunction to prevent the respondents from issuing any additional defamatory remarks about her, along with interest at 18 percent annually from the date of the judgment until complete payment, the expenses of the lawsuit, and any other remedy the court finds suitable.

Advanced Challa contends that the High Court has complete authority to consider the case.

As stated in Adv Mokhoema's sworn statement, the harmful remarks were released on 4 November 2025.

She claims that Koloi and Lepekola spread the false information extensively on Facebook and other digital platforms, reaching people inside Lesotho and overseas.

Court documents indicate that the respondents charged her with taking firearm evidence from the court and selling it to unauthorized miners.Makhomosha also known as banna ba likobo).

The claims reportedly depicted her as a hazardous individual linked with perilous company.

The documents also mention that the individuals questioned her about participating in corrupt activities at her job, concealing criminal cases related to illegal guns, and making sure they "remain hidden from public view" in court since she was accused of selling the evidence.

As stated in the sworn statement, the claims were entirely untrue, harmful, and presented without proper concern for accuracy.

She claims that the statements attacked her character and incorrectly depicted her as untrustworthy, controlling, and engaged in illegal actions, thus damaging her reputation as a judicial officer.

Her documents indicate that the harmful statements were interpreted by readers as implying she was a dishonest official involved in illegal activities.

She also claims that the respondents aimed to harm her reputation within the community, particularly her standing as a member of New Creation Church in M-Motete, Berea.

It is believed that thousands of individuals viewed the harmful content via the respondents' digital platforms.

Adv Challa points out that the claims are not supported by evidence and have significantly damaged Adv Mokhoema's personal and professional reputation, leading to emotional pain, public embarrassment, and a reduced status in both her job and the community.

Copyright 2025 Lesotho Times. All rights reserved. Shared by AllAfrica Global Media (okay1).

Tagged: Legal and Judicial Affairs, Lesotho, Press and Media, Southern Africa

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).