Maseru – The Labour Court of Lesotho has ruled in favour of former Revenue Service Lesotho commissioner general Mathabo Mokoko, ordering her immediate reinstatement and holding the RSL Board in contempt of an earlier court order.
The ruling was delivered on Wednesday in Maseru, where the court sentenced members of the RSL Board to 30 days imprisonment for contempt, with the sentence suspended on strict conditions. The court found that the Board acted in defiance of an earlier directive that barred it from dismissing Mokoko while the matter was still before the court.
The dispute arose after the RSL Board terminated Mokoko’s contract with immediate effect on November 7 and appointed Rakokoana Makoa as acting commissioner general. Mokoko challenged the decision, arguing that her dismissal breached the terms of her employment contract and ignored due disciplinary procedures.
The court ordered that Mokoko be reinstated to her position pending finalisation of the case and directed the respondents to pay the costs of the application on the ordinary scale. It also restated that the Board and RSL were restrained from dismissing or threatening to dismiss her without following the disciplinary hearing procedures set out in clauses 12 and 13(c) of her contract.
In an earlier order, the court instructed the respondents to appear and show cause why interim and final relief sought by Mokoko should not be granted. That order remains in force as the main matter continues.
The case has drawn attention in the region, including in the Kingdom of Eswatini, where governance disputes within revenue authorities are closely watched due to their impact on public finance administration.
In October, Mokoko approached the Lesotho Parliament, accusing Finance Minister Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane of political interference in the operations of the revenue authority. She was appointed commissioner general on August 2, 2023, becoming the first woman to hold the post, and succeeded Thabo Khasipe. Her three year contract is due to expire in August 2026.
The respondents cited in the matter are the Revenue Service Lesotho Board and its members Lindiwe Sephomolo, Ts’ireletso Mojela, Lerato Lerato, Rebecca Ralebakeng, Morongoenyane Nyakane, Mamonaheng Koenane, Libako Lesisanyane, as well as Revenue Service Lesotho Pty Ltd.
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