Former Minister of Health PS Lefu Manyokole
Tefo Tefo
FORMER principal secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health, Lefu Manyokole’s case in which he wants to be reinstated as Ultimate Radio’s Station Manager will be heard on 13 September this year.
High Court Assistant Registrar Starford Sharite confirmed the development to the Lesotho Times yesterday.
“The case has been set for the 13th of September for hearing and it will be argued on the issue of Mr Manyokole’s secondment,” he said, adding the date of hearing was set on Monday this week.
The case will be heard after Mr Manyokole (52) obtained an interim court order stopping his eviction from a government house on the basis he was no longer a public officer after he was dismissed as the Health ministry’s PS by the current coalition government.
Mr Manyokole approached the High Court on 1 July 2016 seeking an order that he be reinstated to his previous job as Station Manager at Ultimate Radio – a government-owned radio station under the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology.
Mr Manyokole argues he was transferred from the radio station to become PS by the Thomas Thabane-led coalition government on what is termed secondment, and that he is entitled to his previous job.
If he is not reinstated, Mr Manyokole to be paid his remuneration as the Station Manager until he is 60-years old, which is the government employees’ retirement age.
However, the government opposes his application and the application will be argued on 13 September 2016.
The respondents include Public Service PS, Commissioner of Police (COMPOL), Public Service Commission, Ministry of Police and Public Safety PS, Communications Ministry’s PS and the Attorney General.
The case is before Justice ‘Maseshophe Hlajoane.
Meanwhile, Mr Manyokole has since fled Lesotho, claiming his life was in danger after his home was twice besieged by state security agents.
Mr Manyokole said his ordeal started when he ignored a notice to vacate his government house. A group of 13 heavily-armed men, whom he said had claimed to be police officers from the Special Operations Unit (SOU), had subsequently stormed his house and demanded to see him but he was away. Two unmarked bakkies, he claims to have been filled with state security officials, had visited his parents’ home in Lekhaloaneng, also looking for him.
However, police spokesperson, Superintendent Clifford Molefe, they had not received any report from Mr Manyokole about those claims.