A power struggle at Tangerine Connect (Pty) Ltd (T-Connect) has escalated into a bitter corporate battle between its regional Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Joshua Setipa, and the Lesotho branch’s chief executive, Advocate Phelane Phomane. The dispute has spilled into the courts, with Mr Setipa seeking to remove Adv Phomane from the company and reporting allegations of fraud and corruption against him to the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO).
The dispute centers on allegations that Adv Phomane failed to change the company’s registered names and transfer shares as agreed. Mr Setipa claims that Adv Phomane agreed to return money to the board, but has not done so. The T-Connect board has resolved to remove Adv Phomane, with Mr Setipa stating that the dispute is not merely a personal fight between the two executives. The company provides high-speed satellite internet services and aims to improve connectivity across Lesotho, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
The DCEO has confirmed that it has received a report alleging corruption against T-Connect. The report is yet to be considered by the directorate’s panel, which will determine whether the matter qualifies for investigation. T-Connect launched Starlink services in Lesotho in June 2025, with plans to create 10 000 direct and 50 000 indirect jobs, alongside a nationwide rollout of community internet hotspots.
The company’s leadership structure changed in November 2025 when T-Connect announced the appointment of Mr Setipa as Group CEO. At the time, Adv Phomane was described as a key shareholder who would explore other African markets as part of the company’s expansion strategy. T-Connect has expanded beyond Lesotho into markets including Zambia, Mauritius, Botswana, and Uganda.
Sources close to the company allege that Mr Setipa is deliberately undermining T-Connect Lesotho to frustrate Adv Phomane and force him out. The sources claim that Mr Setipa has repeatedly sought to sabotage the company’s operations and has lobbied shareholders to remove Adv Phomane from heading the Lesotho branch.
Mr Setipa’s initial attempt to unseat Adv Phomane suffered a setback in the courts after the High Court dismissed an urgent ex parte application seeking to wrest control of T-Connect Lesotho from its founding chief executive. The application was brought by T-Connect South Africa, Mr Setipa, and Bafana Herbet Ncube.
The leadership dispute has significant implications for T-Connect and its operations in Lesotho and beyond. The company’s future plans, including its Starlink-powered artificial intelligence data centers in Southern Africa, are uncertain amid the ongoing power struggle. Key stakeholders, including the company’s Group Chairperson, Nolo Letele, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), are yet to comment on the developments.
Key points
- The power struggle at T-Connect has led to allegations of fraud, corruption, and corporate sabotage.
- The DCEO is yet to consider the report alleging corruption against T-Connect.
- The leadership dispute has significant implications for T-Connect's operations and future plans.
