Lesotho MP Faces Charges Over Controversial Claims Against Monarch

Dr. Tshepo Lipholo, an MP, is facing legal trouble after he claimed Lesotho's sovereignty is compromised by alleged agreements with South Africa.

Dr. Tshepo Lipholo, a member of Lesotho’s parliament, has found himself at the center of a legal storm following his explosive accusations that King Letsie III and the Lesotho government have effectively ceded control of the country to South Africa. The opposition MP faces criminal charges for allegedly damaging the royal family’s reputation and is accused of "violating the dignity and reputation" of the monarchy after making claims that he is the rightful chief ruler of the nation.

During a court appearance on Monday to request bail—yet postponed to later this month—Lipholo expressed his controversial views about the territory, suggesting that certain regions of South Africa, including the Free State and parts of Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, should be reclaimed for Lesotho. According to historical accounts, the Basotho people inhabited these areas until the 19th Century when they were annexed by Afrikaners, yet many still reside there today.

In a charge sheet acquired by the BBC, Lipholo is accused of "uttering seditious words" and "inciting public violence," based on statements made between April and June 2025 during various media appearances. His claims included a provocative assertion that the king and government had signed documents making Lesotho the 10th province of South Africa. Furthermore, he faced additional scrutiny for declaring himself paramount chief of Basutoland, the territory’s colonial designation.

The Basotho Covenant Movement, led by Lipholo, holds only a single parliamentary seat, and their legislative attempts surrounding these territorial assertions stem from a 1962 United Nations resolution affirming the self-determination rights of the Basutoland population. However, South African officials maintain that the prospects for such territorial claims are non-viable due to a lack of widespread support within Lesotho.

This attempt to reclaim ancestral lands faces significant legal hurdles stemming from the Cairo Declaration of 1964, where African leaders pledged to respect colonial borders to prevent further conflict. South Africa's foreign affairs ministry reiterated this stance in a recent parliamentary response.

In a twist to the unfolding drama, a retired army general, Major General Samuel Makoro, has been arrested for allegedly conspiring with Lipholo and leaking sensitive information regarding his case. Lipholo’s legal team has until July 25, 2025, to present arguments for his bail, as he currently remains in police custody.

The ramifications of Lipholo's claims continue to ripple throughout the political landscape, echoing historical grievances that complicate Lesotho's sovereignty and relations with its powerful neighbor.