Parliament Orders Army to Compensate Widow of Soldier Killed in 1998 Katse Barracks Attack
A parliamentary committee has directed the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and the Ministry of Defence to pay M200,000 in compensation—plus accrued interest—to Molemo Takane, the widow of the late soldier Thabo Takane, who was killed during the South African military intervention at Katse Military Barracks in September 1998.
Thabo Takane was among 16 soldiers who lost their lives when South African troops attacked the Katse Barracks as part of an intervention to quell a military rebellion. A contingent of 44 soldiers from the Bloemfontein-based Parachute Brigade besieged the barracks while other units advanced on Maseru on September 22, 1998.
The compensation, provided by South Africa years after the incident, was meant for the families of fallen soldiers. However, in a significant administrative error, the LDF paid M200,000 to Takane’s mother instead of his wife, despite official records naming Molemo Takane as the rightful beneficiary.
The improper disbursement came to light after Molemo discovered that she had been excluded and subsequently launched a lengthy legal battle. Frustrated by the lack of resolution, she approached the parliamentary portfolio committee on the Prime Minister’s cluster for intervention.
During a hearing held this week, LDF Commander Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela acknowledged the mistake. He revealed that the mispayment occurred after Takane’s family submitted a letter claiming that Molemo was “nowhere to be found” following her husband’s death. This claim led to the money being erroneously directed to Takane’s mother.
Lt. Gen. Letsoela openly admitted the army’s failure, stating, “We are aware that a mistake was made and we do not shy away from admitting it. Even in our interactions with Mme Molemo, we have not lost sight of the gravity of our misstep.”
He emphasized that Molemo had been present at her husband’s funeral and played a visible role throughout the grieving process, making the claim of her absence both false and damaging. He further indicated that the LDF had informed the Ministry of Defence once the error was realized, but no corrective action was taken.
Deputy Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Limpho Motanyane, told the committee that the ministry’s finance department had been hesitant to proceed with the payment, fearing potential audit scrutiny over a perceived double payment. However, she acknowledged that the Attorney General had issued a clear legal opinion stating the previous payment to the wrong party did not invalidate the rightful claim by Molemo.
“The Attorney General ruled that the money was paid, but to the wrong beneficiary. However, this was not the fault of the rightful beneficiary,” Motanyane stated.
The committee, chaired by Moshe Makotoko, was unsatisfied with the ministry’s inaction. It ruled that the widow must be paid immediately and with interest to account for the delay and the loss of value over the years. It also called for accountability within the LDF for the initial error and urged the government to recover the misallocated funds from the deceased’s mother.
“This matter should have been resolved immediately after the Attorney General’s ruling. Following this meeting, the ministry and the LDF are expected to cooperate and ensure that Mme Molemo receives her due payment with interest,” said Makotoko.
Molemo Takane confirmed that she had received all other benefits related to her husband’s death, including terminal and leave pay, but not the compensation. “The LDF has repeatedly assured me that they would pay me, but I have yet to see any progress. After waiting in vain, I decided to turn to this committee for help,” she testified.
The committee’s ruling now brings long-overdue justice to a widow who has waited more than two decades for recognition and compensation. It also sends a clear message about the importance of administrative integrity, proper beneficiary management, and accountability in public institutions.
