Lesotho Public Remembers Matsoso, Daughter for Positive Legacies

A memorial service was held in Maseru, Lesotho, to honor Hlompho and Liteboho Matsoso, mother and daughter brutally murdered last week. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Thabang Lekhela urged the public to focus on their positive legacies, rather than the circumstances surrounding their deaths. He described 'M'e Hlompho as a dedicated public servant who devoted many years to serving the country. Her professional contribution and commitment should remain central to how she was remembered, Lekhela said.

'M'e Hlompho, 66, had recently retired as Deputy Accountant General. She previously served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was posted to China as Third Secretary between 2000 and 2008. Former Accountant General Likhapha 'Malehlohonolo Mahase recalled the extraordinary bond between 'M'e Hlompho and Liteboho. Mahase recounted how 'M'e Hlompho would sometimes miss work to attend to her daughter, who was studying in China, offering care and reassurance over the telephone whenever Liteboho fell ill.

Liteboho, 27, was an Assistant Lecturer in the Faculty of Design Innovation at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. Family caregiver Mofihli Matsoso recounted the horrific circumstances in which the two were found murdered inside their Thetsane West home last week. According to Matsoso, the house had been forcibly entered before the assailant allegedly attacked the victims with a garden rake, a flower vase, and a knife. 'M'e Hlompho sustained 17 stab wounds to the head, while Liteboho was stabbed 16 times.

The suspect, Tlotliso Mohapeloa, a 23-year-old relative, has been arrested and police investigations are continuing. Mohapeloa was identified as a relative whom 'M'e Hlompho had reportedly been assisting financially. During a pointing-out exercise, Mohapeloa demonstrated how he allegedly entered the house and attacked the mother and daughter. He claimed his original intention had been to steal money from his aunt, believing she would have received a substantial pension payout following her recent retirement.

The shocking details of the killings emerged during the pointing-out exercise, which attracted considerable media attention. Mohapeloa took investigators to his home at Masianokeng to recover items allegedly stolen from the victims before taking him to the murder scene at Ha Thetsane. The exercise revealed that Mohapeloa had allegedly driven away in 'M'e Hlompho's Volkswagen vehicle to a friend's home in Masianokeng, where he left the stolen items, before abandoning the vehicle at Ha Matala.

The memorial service also heard an emotional account from 'M'e Hlompho's best friend, Nthabiseng Motseko. Motseko revealed that the two women had returned from a weekend getaway in South Africa just hours before the killings. They had enjoyed their trip so much that Mme Hlompho suggested extending it by a day. They consequently returned on Monday evening instead of Sunday as originally planned.

Their neighbour, Motsieleli Makhaba, was the first person to enter the house on the morning of 3 November after the Matsosos were killed the previous night. Makhaba said she became suspicious after noticing that the garage door had been left wide open. The case has sparked widespread outrage and sadness in Lesotho, with many calling for justice for the victims.

Key points

• The public and officials in Lesotho are remembering Hlompho and Liteboho Matsoso for their positive legacies and contributions to society.
• The suspect, Tlotliso Mohapeloa, has been arrested and police investigations are continuing into the brutal murder of the mother and daughter.
• The case has sparked widespread outrage and sadness in Lesotho, with many calling for justice for the victims.