JOHANNESBURG– Law enforcement agencies from South Africa and Lesotho have launched joint intelligence operations to investigate claims of unauthorised Lesotho military camps operating on South African soil.
The issue surfaced after Lesotho Police Commissioner Advocate Borotho Matsoso reportedly raised concerns about the existence of such camps during discussions with his South African counterpart.
On Friday, South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola met with all nine provincial commissioners in Pretoria, during a scheduled Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting, where the matter was brought up alongside ongoing anti-crime efforts.
A preliminary report from SAPS Crime Intelligence was tabled at the meeting, with confirmation that intensified surveillance and operations are underway. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), better known as the Hawks, has joined the probe through its Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit.
So far, multiple searches have been conducted at identified farms, but no physical evidence of such military camps has been found.
General Masemola and Advocate Matsoso have since spoken directly and agreed to coordinate through their respective intelligence units to get to the bottom of the allegations.
Authorities in both countries have urged calm, saying intelligence operatives remain active on the ground to establish the facts.
Discussion about this post